U.S. Opposes Partial Restoration of Sept. 19 Deal... Chung Dongyoung Says "National Security Office Must Present Unified Government Position"

Regarding the situation in which the United States does not agree with the partial restoration of the September 19 inter-Korean military agreement being pursued by the government, Minister of Unification Chung Dongyoung said on the 25th, "It would be desirable for the National Security Office at the Presidential Office to take the lead in formulating a unified position for our government."

Chung Dongyoung, Minister of Unification. Yonhap News Agency

Minister Chung made these remarks while speaking to reporters immediately after the "2026 Policy Advisory Committee Plenary Meeting of the Ministry of Unification," which was held that day at the Government Complex Seoul. He added, "The National Security Office exists to coordinate matters like this."

Earlier, at a briefing on the 18th, Minister Chung had been asked whether coordination with relevant ministries had been completed regarding the re-designation of the no-fly zone and other issues. He replied, "Sufficient consultation and coordination have been carried out among the relevant ministries," and added, "We will announce the (restoration) at an appropriate time." At that time, he explained that the matter had been discussed at a "meeting of ministers related to national security," but it has not been disclosed which ministers from which ministries attended that meeting.

In response to a question asking whether the matter had not already been agreed upon at the meeting, Minister Chung reiterated, "In situations like this, it is better to coordinate and then present a unified position." In relation to this, a senior government official stated the previous day, regarding the issue of re-designating the no-fly zone, that "the United States has not yet agreed, and consultations are ongoing."

Earlier, in his opening remarks at the Policy Advisory Committee plenary meeting, Minister Chung commented on North Korea's 9th Party Congress, saying, "The economic and livelihood-focused policy line that the North is emphasizing at this Party Congress is offering meaningful implications for the situation on the Korean Peninsula," and, "Looking back at the situation on the Korean Peninsula so far, we have the experience that when North Korea placed economic improvement as its top priority, tensions between the two Koreas and between North Korea and the United States were eased, and the space for dialogue and cooperation expanded."

Since no messages directed toward South Korea or the United States have yet been made public at North Korea's 9th Party Congress, which opened on the 19th, Minister Chung did not offer any detailed commentary.

However, he said, "Judging from what has been made public so far, it appears that, as a policy direction for the next five years, they are placing emphasis on economic improvement and bettering the people's livelihoods, while managing their messaging on military and external affairs in a relatively cautious manner," adding, "As Minister of Unification, I am also paying close attention to the personnel moves involving key North Korean officials." In the list of Central Committee members of the Workers' Party of Korea announced earlier by the North, Ri Son-gwon, head of the Party's 10th Department who had been in charge of inter-Korean affairs, and advisor Kim Yong-chol were both excluded.

Minister Chung stressed, "This is a moment when a new situation is needed for both the South and the North," and said, "Rather than useless hostility and confrontation, we must create a new environment centered on peace and joint growth, and through this, we need to build momentum for shared growth between the two Koreas." He added, "I hope that in the near future we can reopen the severed communication channels so that mutual cooperation to ease tensions and manage risks can be restored."