From left, Assistant Minister of National Defense Yoon Dong-joon, Vice Minister of Unification Choi Young-joon and Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs Yeo Seung-bae give a joint briefing on the government's 2022 policies on security, North Korea and diplomacy, respectively, at the Office of Inter-Korean Dialogue in Seoul on December 23, 2021. Courtesy of Ministry of Unification

This year, the government plans to focus on resuming inter-Korean dialogue through various initiatives to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, stressing the need to declare an official end to the 1950-53 Korean War.  

Three diplomacy and security-related ministries – Unification, Foreign Affairs and National Defense – announced plans to achieve those objectives during a joint briefing on policies for 2022 in Seoul on December 23.   

“This is an important moment with the Korean Peninsula at a crossroads between peace and a long-term stalemate,” Vice Minister of Unification Choi Young-joon said at the briefing.  

“We have been seeking an end-of-war declaration which could be the start of a peace regime and catalyze denuclearization,” Vice Minister Choi added. “Such a declaration can help create trust without rapid changes in the situation and be a good starting point to resume stalled inter-Korean and North Korea-U.S. talks.”   

Vice Minister Choi said the two Koreas have agreed to peace and coexistence as well as mutual cooperation, adding that the declaration would be based on such agreements.  

To achieve those goals, the Unification Ministry said it will focus on resuming inter-Korean dialogue and the peace process on the Peninsula as soon as possible.  

It acknowledged that peace initiatives over the last four years have not resulted in the outcomes expected, especially after the 2019 Hanoi Summit between Pyeongyang and Washington produced no deal. But the official added that the ministry will continue efforts to resume inter-Korean exchanges in various fields, including the economy, society, culture and sports.  

The Foreign Ministry said it will strengthen relations with the United States, China, Japan and Russia. It also pledged to continue strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance comprehensively and maintain an unwavering strategic cooperative partnership.  

Addressing South Korea-Japan relations, which have long been strained following disputes over historical issues such as imperial Japan’s use of sexual slavery and forced labor during World War II, the Foreign Ministry said South Korea will adhere to its two-track strategy that separates the resolution of past issues from economic cooperation.  

It also pledged to strengthen diplomacy to achieve “economic security” to cope with changes in the international community in such issues as supply chains, digital technologies and the environment.  

The Defense Ministry said the military will maintain a strong deterrence posture and fulfill an inter-Korean military agreement signed on September 19, 2018, to establish peace on the Peninsula.   

The ministries pledged to work toward establishing a peace regime until the last day of the Moon Jae-in administration, so the next administration can build on that momentum.  

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