President Yoon Seok-yeol made a statement last week that could be interpreted as unification absorption, saying that South Korea should be united focusing on systems and systems.
As the debate grew, Minister Kwon Young-se came forward and explained that he did not mean that.
The president speaks without hesitation, and the minister takes matters into his own hands Let’s talk to reporter Kim Hak-il, who is in and out of the Unification Ministry.
(anchor question)
Reporter Kim, let’s look at President Yoon’s comments first. What was it about?
(Reporter’s answer)
Those were the words President Yoon said in his closing remarks after receiving this year’s work report from the Ministry of Unification last Friday.
I asked a few questions while continuing my comments about the need to be calm and prepare well for a merger.
The first was, “How should we merge, shouldn’t it be done in a better way?”, this question.
The second is, “If North Korea lives better than the South, it should be united focusing on it, and if the South lives much better, isn’t it common sense that it should be united focusing on system and the South Korean system?”
It is common sense to merge that focuses on the southern system, that was the statement in question.
random news(anchor question)
I didn’t note that it was an absorption merger, but depending on what I’m hearing, it seems to be a merger absorption theory.
(Reporter’s answer)
That’s okay. In a situation where the gap in national power between the two Koreas is extraordinary, it was said that unification should be centered on the south, so some interpreted it as something that is no different from mentioning the theory of unification through absorb.
As the debate grew, Unification Minister Kwon Young-se interpreted the president’s comments on today’s (30th) broadcast.
“Unification by absorption is a story about absorbing other societies regardless of the other person’s intentions. That’s not what President Yoon said.”
“The story that the people should unite peacefully according to a liberal democratic order where they enjoy more freedom and more prosperity is no doubt correct, but I did not mean to unite by absorption no matter what the intentions of the other party,” said the officer.
I also feel that the Unification Minister is taking care of the President’s controversial comments.
(anchor question)
President Yoon recently made a statement about the need for his own nuclear weapons, which caused controversy, right?
(Reporter’s answer)
President Yoon tentatively mentioned the need to possess nuclear weapons in case of an emergency in the Ministry of National Defense’s business report on the 11th.
If the problem becomes more serious due to North Korean provocations, “South Korea can use tactical nuclear weapons or have its own nuclear weapons,” he said.
South Korea’s comments about possessing its own nuclear weapons were the first since President Park Chung-hee in the 1970s, and caused a huge uproar at home and abroad.
The President’s office later explained that “there is no change in the major principle of adhering to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty and the NPT system,” and Minister Kwon Young-se also appeared on broadcast yesterday (29th) and drew a clear line . against the spread of nuclear discourse.
Minister Kwon emphasized, “The intention is to respond with a strong will to the nuclear threat of North Korea, to the extent that President Yoon makes comments about having nuclear weapons. At the moment this is not the right direction to go in uncomfortable with doubts about extended US deterrence.”
“It would be a big deal if Korea, a trading nation, escaped the NPT system and suffered economic retaliation,” and made it clear that “the use of tactical nuclear weapons on the Korean Peninsula cannot be seen as strengthening nuclear response capabilities .”
(anchor question)
As reporter Kim said, when President Yoon makes a controversial statement, I feel that Minister Kwon takes care of him.
Kwon Young-se, Minister of Unification. Photographic Co-operation Institute
(Reporter’s answer)
All of President Yoon’s comments came in the order of listening to and completing the work reports of the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Unification. Furthermore, it is included in a written press briefing released by the President’s Office that evening.
Although President Yoon is known for his talkative and outspoken nature, it is hard to see such comments as accidental. There seem to be several intentions.
The Choi Jong-hyun Academy published a public opinion poll today, and 76 percent of respondents said independent nuclear development is necessary.
The president is probably aware of this domestic public opinion.
On the other hand, the Ministry of Unification is a department whose primary task is to improve relations through inter-Korean dialogue and take a step towards peaceful unification.
Therefore, there is an analysis that the Unification Minister, who is said to be trusted by President Yoon, is dividing roles to balance negotiations that may lead to a hard line.
(anchor question)
Still, it’s true that the president’s comments feel a little dangerous.
(Reporter’s answer)
Do you know what North Korea’s comments spark the most excitement among the statements made by our government, Anchor Jung?
It is about the absorption and unification of Germany.
For North Korea, the most unpleasant and repulsive word is unification absorption.
Is it very helpful to manage peace and inter-Korean relations if the president steps forward and makes statements that may cause misunderstanding?
President Yoon should respond very strongly and courageously to North Korea’s provocations, but there are voices that cause concern about whether it is necessary to provoke North Korea unnecessarily.
