Cho Hyun: "North Korea is an urgent and existential threat that can turn into an enemy"

Cho Hyun, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, described North Korea on July 17 as "an urgent and existential threat that can turn into an enemy."

Cho Hyun, nominee for Minister of Foreign Affairs, is listening to questions at the confirmation hearing held by the Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee at the National Assembly in Yeouido, Seoul on July 17, 2025. Photo by Yonhap News

At the National Assembly confirmation hearing on this day, Cho made this statement in response to a question from Kim Kiwoong, a member of the People Power Party, who asked, "Is North Korea an enemy or a threat?" However, Cho also added, "North Korea is also a counterpart for dialogue with whom we must create peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," emphasizing that "it has a dual nature."

When asked to provide an example of North Korea turning into an enemy, Cho answered, "the Korean War." In response to repeated questions about whether North Korea's nuclear development or long-range missile provocations constitute enemy actions, he said, "There is a threat that North Korea could turn into an enemy, and this should be taken very seriously."

The question of whether "North Korea is the main enemy" is a recurring topic at confirmation hearings for foreign affairs and security positions. On July 14, Jeong Dongyoung, Minister of Unification, was asked the same question and replied, "I do not agree." Instead, he referred to North Korea as a "threat."

However, Ahn Kyubaek, nominee for Minister of National Defense, responded to the same question by stating, "It is clearly stated that the North Korean military and regime are our enemies," and added, "Not only North Korea, but anything that threatens our territory, territorial waters, or airspace is our enemy."