Chung Dong-young calls for permanent peace regime, greater inter-Korean exchanges and revival of Kaesong Industrial Complex
South Korea aims to expand a potential summit between US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un into four-party talks involving the two Koreas, the US and China, with the goal of replacing the Korean Peninsula's decades-old armistice system with a permanent peace regime, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Wednesday.
"Our strategic objective is to turn a US-North Korea summit into four-party talks and link those discussions to the establishment of a peace regime," Chung said during a special lecture at the Herald Global Business Forum, held at the Ambassador Seoul Pullman Hotel in Seoul.
Chung's remarks come amid growing speculation that US President Donald Trump could meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his upcoming visit to China for the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation summit, scheduled for Nov. 18-19 in Shenzhen.
Chung described the armistice system, which has remained in place since the 1950-53 Korean War ended without a peace treaty, as a fragile foundation for stability, comparing it to a temporary structure that must eventually be replaced by a lasting peace arrangement.
He argued that renewed dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang could provide a breakthrough in the diplomatic impasse, particularly as North Korea continues to reject engagement with Seoul after declaring the Koreas "two hostile states."
Under the proposed framework, the four countries could discuss a peace agreement to replace the armistice, improvements in US-North Korea relations, a halt to the further development of Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities and expanded economic cooperation.
Chung also outlined his vision of "de facto unification," arguing that the two Koreas should prioritize restoring cross-border exchanges and freedom of movement rather than pursuing immediate political or legal reunification, citing Germany's experience as an example of how sustained exchanges and cooperation can help lay the groundwork for eventual reunification.
He suggested that the two Koreas could pursue gradual integration by allowing people and goods to move more freely across the border, while leaving the question of formal political reunification to future generations.
"What we need is de facto unification," Chung said. "Let's be able to travel back and forth. That is de facto unification."
Drawing parallels with the expansion of exchanges between South Korea and China following the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1992, Chung said Seoul and Pyongyang should work toward overcoming decades of hostility and allowing people and goods to move more freely across the border.
He stressed that restoring inter-Korean exchanges was particularly urgent for families separated by the Korean War, many of whom have grown old without knowing whether their relatives across the border are still alive.
Chung also reaffirmed his commitment to reopening the Kaesong industrial park, a once-prominent symbol of inter-Korean economic cooperation that has remained closed since 2016.
He said his determination to revive the complex was among the reasons he had returned to the post of unification minister, although he acknowledged that worsening political and security conditions had made its reopening increasingly difficult.
Beyond the diplomatic and humanitarian implications, Chung argued that establishing a permanent peace regime could create new economic opportunities by reducing security risks and enabling greater cooperation between the two Koreas.
He suggested that combining South Korea's capital and technology with North Korea's labor force and natural resources could help revive the South Korean economy's growth potential.
The lecture was part of the third week of the 10th Herald Global Business Forum, held under the theme "Reading the Future in an Age of Uncertainty," which explores South Korea's future direction amid a rapidly changing geopolitical and economic landscape.
Wednesday's session also featured a lecture by journalist-turned-economist Park Jong-hoon, "How to Survive the Seismic Shifts in the Global Economy."
Park discussed how rapid advances in artificial intelligence are reshaping the global economic order and industrial competition, while examining the impact of shifting interest rates, exchange rates and supply chains on businesses. He also outlined strategies for navigating an era of persistent economic uncertainty.
mkjung@heraldcorp.com