Vice Unification Minister Kim Nam-joong on Wednesday emphasized that addressing North Korea by its official name marks "the starting point of the Lee Jae-myung administration's Korean Peninsula peaceful coexistence policy, which is based on the principle of respecting the North Korean system and not pursuing unification by absorption."
Kim made the remarks at a special academic conference hosted by the Korean Political Science Association at the Press Center in Jung-gu, Seoul, under the theme "Calling Names for Peaceful Coexistence: North Korea or Joseon?" He said, "How we address the other side reflects how we perceive them and what kind of relationship we seek to build."
"When we look at inter-Korean relations and unification, we tend to rely on emotional approaches or political dichotomies," Kim said. "We also lead with vague aversion when it comes to how we address North Korea." He added, "What we need is an objective recognition of the other side based on respect, which enables balanced and productive discussions."
"The issue of naming is by no means simple. We must comprehensively consider our constitutional order, the special nature of inter-Korean relations, domestic legislation, international practice, and public consensus," Kim said. "In the case of East and West Germany, both sides used each other's official names, which led to expanded exchanges and cooperation and created a flow of change that eased tensions."
He added, "When language and institutions that recognize and respect the other side's reality are in place, we will be able to break the vicious cycle of confrontation and expand the space for peaceful coexistence."
The event was held with the support of the Ministry of Unification to promote public discussion on the use of "Democratic People's Republic of Korea," the North's official name. Since taking office, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has used the terms "Democratic People's Republic of Korea" and "Han-Jo (Korea-Joseon) relations."
