South Korea offers talks with North Korea, outlines unification strategy

South Korea offers talks with North Korea, outlines unification strategy

IN a significant move, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has offered to establish a working-level consultative body with North Korea to explore ways to ease tensions and resume economic cooperation.

Speaking on Thursday during a National Liberation Day address, Yoon outlined his vision for the unification of the Korean Peninsula, marking the 79th anniversary of Korea’s independence from Japanese colonial rule.

Yoon emphasized that South Korea is ready to begin political and economic cooperation if North Korea takes steps toward denuclearization.

“First, our people must firmly establish the values and capabilities necessary to pursue free unification; second, we must bring about changes that make the North Korean people earnestly desire free unification; and third, we must work in solidarity with the international community,” according to Yoon Seok Yeol, President, South Korea.

His proposal comes amid heightened hostilities, with North Korea launching propaganda balloons into South Korea and Seoul responding with propaganda speakers along the demilitarized zone (DMZ).

Yoon also proposed creating a “dialogue and consultation body” to address issues such as tension reduction, economic and human exchanges, cultural interactions, and responses to disasters and climate change. He suggested that humanitarian issues, including separated families, South Korean prisoners of war, abductees, and detainees, could be discussed within this framework.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has previously labeled South Korea a “primary foe” and declared that unification is no longer feasible, casting a shadow over Yoon’s conciliatory efforts.

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