Minister Chung Dong-young of the Unification Ministry said at the National Assembly Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee's afternoon audit on the 14th that "President Lee Jae-myung, I believe, does not think of North Korea as the main enemy." Within the ruling party, concerns were raised that the "peaceful two-state theory" Chung proposed was hasty.
At the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee audit that day, the Minister responded this way to a question from Chairperson Kim Seok-ki, who asked, "Does the president think of North Korea as the main enemy?"
In response to an opposition lawmaker's point that his position on the "two-state theory" differs from the presidential office, he said, "Chung Dong-young understands President Lee's convictions and philosophy better than anyone," adding, "On inter-Korean relations, I am accurately representing President Lee's policy line toward North Korea."
To the question, "What does the president think about the peaceful two-state theory?" the Minister said, "The president's thinking is well reflected in the state agenda," adding, "What is important in the state agenda is institutionalizing peaceful coexistence, and if you invert the institutionalization of peaceful coexistence, it is a peaceful two-state approach. The peaceful two-state theory is not a concept that fell from the sky."
When Chairperson Kim said, "The Minister of National Defense and the Minister of Justice said 'North Korea is the main enemy,' and the director of the Office of National Security countered that 'we do not recognize the two-state theory,'" and asked, "Have you discussed the two-state theory with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the national security director?" the Minister answered, "It is under discussion at the NSC (National Security Council)."
Chairperson Kim then pointed out, "Is it appropriate to call a matter under discussion 'two states'?" adding, "Because the president and the Minister have a special connection, there are many concerns that the president is unable to control the Minister."
The Minister emphasized, "I understand the point," but added, "What the national security director said — 'we have never recognized the two-state theory' — is about legal recognition. That is my position as well. Therefore, there is no difference between the national security director's position and mine."
To the question, "When do you think the peaceful two-state theory could be finalized as the government's position?" he answered, "We are in the process of commissioning studies and holding forums on how to institutionalize peaceful coexistence," adding, "We intend to wrap it up as quickly as possible."
Even within the ruling party, there were criticisms that the Minister's remarks were hasty. Lawmaker Yun Hu-duk of the Democratic Party of Korea said, "We have never held a party-government consultation on the peaceful two-state theory even once, and when I ask members who were on the National Agenda Planning Committee, they say that is not what it was," adding, "My judgment is that this is not at a stage to be finalized now. If it is a concept as enormous as changing unification theory itself, I think it should receive the public's consent." He continued, "I find it hard to accept skipping all those processes. Please talk more with the public and consult more within the government."
In response, the Minister said, "It is not an enormous concept but a common-sense one," while adding, "I accept that there is a need to coordinate further within the ruling party and the government."