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The Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) held a conference titled Reviewing Major International Political Issues on the Korean Peninsula in 2026 at the Westin Chosun Hotel in Jung-gu, Seoul, on Tuesday 2025.12.23 / News1
On Tuesday, experts proposed that if North Korea, which has declared itself as one of two Koreas, continues to refuse dialogue with the Ministry of Unification, the government should consider establishing a dedicated agency directly under the President to facilitate talks with North Korea.
The Institute for National Security Strategy (INSS) held a conference titled, Reviewing Major International Political Issues on the Korean Peninsula in 2026, at the Westin Chosun Hotel in downtown Seoul. INSS Senior Research Fellow Lee Sang-keun stated that since North Korea has defined South Korea not as a target for unification or a fellow compatriot, but as an enemy in conflict, it may argue that any dialogue with them must take a completely different form than in the past.
Lee predicted that during the process of resuming dialogue with South Korea, North Korea is likely to attempt to establish their bilateral relationship as a fait accompli through formal use of national titles and changes in the agencies overseeing the talks. He added that for example, North Korea could insist that its Ministry of Foreign Affairs handle discussions with South Korea, which would then require the State Department to participate as well.
He pointed out that if the government focuses solely on achieving inter-Korean dialogue and accepts North Korea’s demands, it will face severe criticism and backlash for recognizing inter-Korean relations as a state-to-state relationship, which contradicts the Constitution. To avoid this, he argued that a presidentially appointed agency dedicated to inter-Korean dialogue could be a viable alternative.
Lee further stated that after establishing a dedicated agency under the President, it must demand that North Korea also send a similar authority, such as the State Affairs Commission led by Kim Jong Un, to the negotiating table. He emphasized that the relationship between this presidential agency and the Ministry of Unification should be clearly defined before dialogue with North Korea becomes substantial.
Meanwhile, he noted that North Korea’s construction of fences and barriers in border areas as part of its disconnection measures could be completed by 2026. He suggested that once this project is finished, North Korea may consider that Chairman Kim’s directives have been implemented and look for new approaches toward South Korea.
Lee added that particularly if U.S.-North Korea talks begin, it will become evident that North Korea’s demands for the suspension of U.S.-South Korea joint exercises and the halt of U.S. strategic assets’ deployment to the Korean Peninsula cannot be decided unilaterally by the U.S. and require agreement with South Korea. He concluded that in such a situation, if the U.S. encourages inter-Korean dialogue, North Korea may reconsider its previous stance of completely rejecting dialogue and contact with South Korea.