South Korea's Ministry of National Defense will maintain the designation of North Korea's regime and military as "enemies" in its upcoming white paper [1].
The disagreement highlights a growing rift within the South Korean government regarding how to balance national security readiness with diplomatic efforts to achieve peace on the peninsula.
Defense Ministry deputy spokesperson Lee Kyung-ho said the position that the North Korean regime and North Korean military are enemies remains unchanged [1]. The ministry intends to retain this adversarial language to ensure consistency in the nation's defense policy [1].
This upcoming document marks the first defense white paper released in four years [1]. The government is scheduled to publish the report by the end of 2024 [1].
However, the Ministry of Unification has voiced disagreement with the decision [1]. Officials from the Unification Ministry said the "enemy" label conflicts with the government's broader policy of peace-coexistence [1].
The Unification Ministry argues that maintaining such language undermines efforts to foster a peaceful environment on the Korean Peninsula [1]. While the Defense Ministry views the terminology as a necessary reflection of current security realities, the Unification Ministry views it as a barrier to diplomatic progress [1].
The internal conflict persists as the government prepares the final draft of the white paper. The tension underscores the duality of the state's approach, maintaining a strong military deterrent while simultaneously pursuing a policy of peaceful coexistence [1].
“The position that the North Korean regime and North Korean military are enemies remains unchanged.”
This internal dispute reflects the fundamental tension in South Korean foreign policy between 'hardline' security deterrence and 'soft' diplomatic engagement. By labeling the North as an enemy, the Defense Ministry prioritizes military readiness and clear adversarial boundaries, while the Unification Ministry fears such rhetoric closes the door to the peace-coexistence goals necessary for long-term stability.
