Unification minister defends N. Korea policy after Lee's call for caution

Seoul, August 6 - Unification Minister Chung Dong-young affirmed Thursday that his department's campaign for peaceful coexistence with North Korea remains steadfast, despite President Lee Jae Myung's call for a measured approach to the ministry's suggestions. The president's remarks came in a policy briefing, where he urged a cautious stance on the minister's proposals, including referring to North Korea by its official name and adopting a trust-building strategy.

Chung's response to the president's caution, relayed to reporters on his way to work, was to continue working towards peaceful coexistence and to exercise patience. The unification ministry's push for dropping the "main enemy" label and using North Korea's official name was met with skepticism from President Lee, who warned against policies that could be exploited for political gain.

Adding to the potential internal government divisions, Foreign Minister Cho Hyun also expressed doubt about the ministry's initiatives, describing them as "idealistic" during a recent press conference. Cho acknowledged the appeal of the vision but stated that his ministry does not view it as feasible. He emphasized that tangible progress could only be achieved through idealism and cooperation between government entities.