Unification ministry defends white paper against criticism over 'two-state' language

The unification ministry on Tuesday pushed back against criticism that its newly published white paper violates the Constitution, clarifying the controversial "two-state" language does not reflect official government policy. "It does not at all mean recognizing North Korea as a legal state," a ministry official told reporters. "It is meant to pursue policy based on acknowledging North Korea's political entity and statehood." The paper, released Monday, outlines the Lee Jae Myung government's North Korea policy around three key principles: Seoul respects North Korea's system, does not pursue unification by absorption and will not engage in hostile activities. It says Seoul seeks peaceful coexistence with North Korea, while still aiming for eventual unification, "given the reality that South and North Korea effectively exist as two states." The paper also called for transforming Pyongyang's "hostile two-state policy" into a "peaceful two-state" relationship seeking unification, a wording that drew criticism from some who argued it risks legitimizing North Korea as a separate sovereign stat

Original source: Korea Times