The government has outlined the direction for the development of inter-Korean relations over the next five years, anchored by the vision of "Peaceful Coexistence and Shared Growth on the Korean Peninsula." The "4th Basic Plan for the Development of Inter-Korean Relations"—originally formulated during the past administration—has been terminated.
On the 19th, the Ministry of Unification convened the "1st 2026 Meeting of the Committee for the Development of Inter-Korean Relations," presided over by Minister Chung Dong-young, to deliberate on the "5th Basic Plan for the Development of Inter-Korean Relations."
The 5th Basic Plan encompasses three major objectives: "Institutionalizing Peaceful Coexistence between the Two Koreas," "Building a Foundation for Shared Growth on the Korean Peninsula," and "Realizing a Korean Peninsula Free of War and Nuclear Weapons." Its three guiding principles are "Respect for the North Korean Regime," "No Pursuit of Unification by Absorption," and "No Engagement in Hostile Acts."
To realize this vision, the government has established six key priority tasks: △re-establishing inter-Korean relations based on reconciliation and cooperation, and institutionalizing peaceful coexistence; △seeking a resolution to the North Korean nuclear issue and advancing a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula; △promoting mutually beneficial inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation that resonate with the public; △alleviating the suffering caused by national division and resolving humanitarian issues; △preparing for a future of a "peace economy" and shared growth on the Korean Peninsula; and △revitalizing public engagement and international cooperation to build a consensus on peace and unification.
In his opening remarks, the Minister of Unification stated, "Our goal is peaceful coexistence itself," adding, "The notion of using peaceful coexistence as a mere means to manipulate or gain leverage over the other party does not exist within our policy framework."
He further remarked, "The Lee Jae-myung administration's policy and stance on peaceful coexistence serve as a safety mechanism, preventing the kind of wartime instability currently seen in the Middle East from spilling over onto the Korean Peninsula."
The 5th Basic Plan—the first such plan formulated under the Lee Jae-myung administration—will be in effect from this year through 2030. The "4th Basic Plan" (2023–2027), established under the previous administration, was terminated ahead of schedule.
An official from the Ministry of Unification explained, "Following the 4th Basic Plan, the government's overall direction regarding Korean Peninsula policy underwent a complete transformation." The official added, "Since the fundamental purpose of a basic plan is to guide various government ministries in implementing Korean Peninsula policies, it became necessary to formulate a new basic plan ahead of schedule to ensure both its intended purpose and practical effectiveness."
Based on the *Act on Development of Inter-Korean Relations*, the government formulates a "Basic Plan"—which serves as a comprehensive, government-wide policy framework toward North Korea—every five years.
The Basic Plan deliberated upon today will be finalized following Cabinet review. It will subsequently be reported to the National Assembly and officially released to the public through publication in the *Government Gazette*. Based on this Basic Plan, the government will formulate annual implementation plans.
