South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young has proposed a four-way dialogue involving South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and China to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, according to Yonhap News. The proposal was made during his special address at the opening ceremony of the 11th Ulaanbaatar Dialogue in Mongolia, a regional security forum established in 2014 that brings together government officials, experts, and scholars to discuss Northeast Asian security issues.
Chung stressed the need to rebuild inter-Korean trust and restore peace, suggesting that the four-party talks could eventually expand to include Mongolia, Japan, and Russia. He also cited the Greater Tumen Initiative, a regional cooperation mechanism, as a vehicle for advancing his vision of multilateral dialogue in Northeast Asia.
During his visit, Chung met with Mongolian President Ukhnaa Khurelsukh and held talks with Foreign Minister Batmunkh Battsetseg and Culture Minister Jargalsaikhan Alearjavkhlan to discuss deepening bilateral ties and securing Mongolia's support for South Korea's policy of peaceful coexistence with North Korea. Mongolia's diplomatic relations with both Koreas have led many to view it as a potential facilitator of dialogue on the peninsula, Yonhap reported.
Chung's remarks come amid shifting regional dynamics. Yonhap noted that North Korea participated in the Ulaanbaatar Dialogue through 2018 but has not attended since 2019, and had not confirmed participation in this year's event, which was expected to draw about 250 participants from 25 nations.
In a separate statement, Chung said that South and North Korea should be the "leading players" in resolving security issues on the Korean Peninsula, expressing concern that outside powers could overshadow the two Koreas' role. He recalled his 2005 meeting with Kim Jong-il, the late father of current North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, during which they agreed that the two Koreas should take the initiative in building peace. "We should be brave and decide our own destiny," Chung quoted Kim as saying.
Chung also proposed an EU-led initiative to help the two Koreas resume dialogue and cross-border exchanges during a meeting with a delegation from the European Union, according to Yonhap. The proposal aligns with Seoul's broader push for international support for its policy of peaceful coexistence with the North, which has been a hallmark of the Lee Jae-myung administration.
In a notable departure from past practice, Chung repeatedly referred to North Korea by its official name, the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a term that previous South Korean governments had avoided because it implies the two Koreas are separate sovereign states. This shift reflects the current administration's emphasis on peaceful coexistence over unification.
The ministry said Chung's visit was also aimed at securing Mongolia's backing for Seoul's policy toward Pyongyang, given Mongolia's unique position as a country with diplomatic ties to both Koreas.
While the proposal for a four-way dialogue has been put forward by Chung, there has been no immediate response from the other parties involved. The article is based on information provided by Yonhap News Agency.