On August 21, Minister of Unification Chung Dong-young commented on President Donald Trump’s efforts to resume dialogue with North Korea. He stated that it can observe that a tectonic shift on the Korean Peninsula, initiated by President Trump, has begun.
During a meeting with leaders from seven major religious groups at a restaurant in Jung-gu that afternoon, he added that it’s premature to be either optimistic or pessimistic at this stage.
Minister Jeong expressed that if the anticipated North Korea-U.S. summit takes place, it could lead to a redefinition of the situation on the Korean Peninsula and the surrounding Northeast Asian issues.
He urged the religious leaders present at the meeting, saying that it needs to move forward with the public, as that will strengthen the efforts. It hopes the seven major religious groups will work for peace and stability, while the government also fulfills its responsibilities. This is a time when both the government and religious institutions must make their own efforts.
Regarding North Korea’s use of its official name, Minister Chung noted that considering public sentiment, it believes it’s necessary to wait until public opinion matures rather than having the government take the lead. If the seven major religious groups take the initiative in this process, it thinks it will further stimulate public discourse.
The leaders of the seven religious groups who attended the meeting also argued that a public discussion about the use of the term Joseon is necessary.
Park Seung-ryeol, General Secretary of the National Council of Churches in Korea (NCCK), stated that regarding the naming issue, it believes it’s right to call each other by the names it prefers. Respecting one another means accurately addressing each other by their chosen names.
Park In-jun, President of the Korean Council of Religious Leaders for Peace (KCRP), remarked that if political figures intervene and religious leaders issue statements, it could lead to significant backlash. It should take the time and naturally adopt each other’s preferred names to avoid major conflicts.