What did DPK leader Kim Min-seok say about South Korea’s security stance toward North Korea and the United States?

Kim said South Korea must strengthen its independent security capabilities and not depend solely on the United States. He warned that a freeze-first, resolve-later approach to North Korea’s nuclear issue could become possible if U.S.-North Korea relations improve.

Why did Kim Min-seok link a freeze-first approach to North Korea’s nuclear program with South Korea’s security policy?

He said Washington may become a tougher negotiating partner rather than a generous big brother, and he also pointed to Donald Trump’s desire to meet Kim Jong-un and scale back a major South Korea-U.S. exercise. In his view, those shifts could affect deterrence and require Seoul to prepare early.

What did Kim Min-seok say about constitutional revision and Lee Jae Myung’s possible second term?

Kim pledged to pursue a feasible constitutional amendment that reflects public consensus, changing times, and people’s demands. His remarks came after Cho Jeong-sik said the question of an incumbent president’s eligibility for another term under a revised Constitution is ultimately up to the people, prompting opposition lawmakers to raise concerns about Lee Jae Myung.

DPK leader calls for stronger security capabilities, says 'freeze-first' approach to NK nukes possible

Listen

Summary

Rep. Kim Min-seok, leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, urged South Korea to strengthen its independent security capabilities in a National Assembly policy address on Monday. He said a freeze-first, resolve-later approach to North Korea’s nuclear issue could emerge if U.S.-North Korea relations improve, and Seoul should prepare in advance. Kim also called for constitutional revision based on public consensus and said Seoul should weigh Kim Jong-un’s two-state policy for peaceful coexistence.

Key Facts

Kim said South Korea should no longer rely solely on the United States for security and should build stronger independent capabilities in advance.
He said Seoul should actively help facilitate dialogue between the United States and North Korea while responding to possible changes in their relations.
Kim said Seoul should consider whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un’s two-state policy could be used to promote peaceful coexistence.
He vowed to pursue a feasible constitutional amendment that reflects changing times and people’s demands, while prioritizing livelihoods and balanced regional development.
His remarks followed National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik’s statement that an incumbent president’s eligibility for another term under a revised Constitution is ultimately up to the people.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 7, 2026 11:57 am KST

Kim Min-seok, leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea, delivers his policy address at the National Assembly in Seoul, Monday. Yonhap

The leader of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) on Monday called for strengthening South Korea's independent security capabilities, citing the possibility of a shift toward a "freeze-first" approach to North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Rep. Kim Min-seok made the call in his policy address to the National Assembly session, stressing the need for Seoul to facilitate dialogue between the United States and North Korea while actively responding to possible changes in their relations.

"Considering the possibility that the United States and North Korea may achieve a dramatic improvement in relations and if by any chance, a 'freeze-first, resolve-later' approach could be adopted on the North Korean nuclear issue, South Korea must strengthen its independent security capabilities in advance," Kim said.

"The days when South Korea could depend solely on the United States are over," Kim added, noting that Washington is choosing to become "a tough negotiating partner rather than a generous big brother."

Kim also said Seoul should consider whether North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's "two-state" policy could be used to promote peaceful coexistence rather than dismissing it entirely.

Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump expressed his intention to meet Kim later this year and ordered the scaling back of a major South Korea-U.S. exercise, citing his "very good" relationship with Kim.

He also argued that the allies' drills are costly and can send a "totally inappropriate and hostile" signal to the North.

The scaled-back exercise raised concerns that it could weaken the allies' deterrence against Pyongyang's growing nuclear and missile threats.

On domestic issues, Kim pledged to push for a constitutional revision that reflects public consensus, while vowing to prioritize people's livelihoods and promote balanced regional development.

"While respecting the procedural principles of the current Constitution and laws, we will pursue a feasible constitutional amendment that reflects the changing times and people's demands," he said.

Kim's remarks came after National Assembly Speaker Cho Jeong-sik told a press conference that an incumbent president's eligibility to seek another term under a revised Constitution is ultimately up to the people.

The remarks prompted opposition lawmakers to question whether he had left open the possibility of President Lee Jae Myung seeking a second term.

Explore More