Kwak Yeon-soo is a digital editor at The Korea Times creating, editing and curating digital content for the newspaper’s website, mobile app and social media. She previously covered a diverse array of cultural, political and business topics.
Seoul offers to play key role in possible talks between Washington, Pyongyang
Vice Unification Minister Kim Soo-kyung speaks during a press conference at Government Complex Seoul, Monday. Yonhap
By Kwak Yeon-soo
South Korea to pursue denuclearization of North Korea with Trump administration: unification ministry
South Korea believes the chances of Pyongyang and Washington resuming dialogue without Seoul’s involvement under a second Trump administration are low, given the strengthened South Korea-U.S. alliance and the significant changes in the geopolitical landscape since Donald Trump’s first presidency, the government said, Monday.
The comment from the Ministry of Unification came amid speculation that Trump may seek another round of bilateral talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, similar to those during his first presidency. There are also suggestions that, this time, the Yoon Suk Yeol government, which has taken a tougher stance against the Kim regime, could be sidelined.
However, the ministry said such a situation is unlikely to occur, emphasizing that South Korea will play a leading role in any potential resumption of dialogue.
“It will be difficult for both the U.S. and North Korea to resume dialogue without South Korea. Since the South Korea-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever, I believe the unification ministry will not be overlooked,” a senior ministry official said on condition of anonymity.
“The second Trump administration would be different from the first, given the geopolitical challenges, including North Korea’s troop deployment to Russia. North Korea’s ‘two hostile states’ policy, the abolishment of agencies handling inter-Korean affairs, and ongoing provocations all suggest that the role of the unification ministry is crucial,” the official added.
Regarding Kim’s statement on Monday calling for the unrestrained bolstering of nuclear forces and completing war preparations, the official said the remarks are aimed at fueling hostility toward South Korea and strengthening internal military morale, as rumors have been circulating in the North about troop deployments to the Ukraine war.
The ministry said while unification is a national mission, it cannot be achieved independently and requires cooperation from the international community.
“The government will work closely with the incoming U.S. administration to bring change and pursue the denuclearization of North Korea. We will continue to move toward the goal of unification by accelerating the implementation of the Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine,” Vice Unification Minister Kim Soo-kyung said during a press conference at Government Complex Seoul.
The doctrine, announced by Yoon, includes initiatives to pursue a free, unified Korean Peninsula.
“The process of persuading the international community of the legitimacy of unification is also important,” Kim added.
The ministry said it is reviewing measures to reclaim loans granted to North Korea for the construction of inter-Korean roads and rail lines after the North destroyed them in October.
On Oct. 15, North Korea destroyed the northern sections of two inter-Korean roads — the Gyeongui Road in the western border region and the Donghae Road along the east coast — in an apparent effort to sever all ties with South Korea and formalize a hostile, two-state system on the Korean Peninsula.
“We will seek the collection of loans extended to North Korea, although there are concerns the country may refuse to repay them following its detonation of inter-Korean roads and rail lines,” the ministry official said.
From 2002 to 2008, South Korea provided 180 billion won ($129 million) in loans to North Korea for the construction of roads and railways along the two inter-Korean routes.
The ministry will also seek to establish a North Korea freedom and human rights fund to actively support nongovernmental efforts that promote freedom and human rights in the North. The fund is intended to officially support private organizations in openly discussing North Korea's human rights issues. The government also vowed to launch the North Korean Human Rights Foundation. The foundation has remained inactive for eight years due to the main opposition Democratic Party of Korea blocking the nomination process for the leadership position.