Monday, September 28, 2026

Kim Min-seok: "North Korea's two-state theory, the Strait of Hormuz and nuclear-powered submarines... Now is the time for a peace regime"

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2026-09-28 08:29:44
Updated
2026-09-28 08:29:44
Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea. Hap News

[Financial News] Kim Min-seok, leader of the Democratic Party of Korea, said on the 28th, "Now is the time for a peace regime," announcing that the party would begin addressing inter-Korean relations and the issue of a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula in earnest, following President Lee Jae Myung's speech at the UN General Assembly.
Speaking on the Democratic Party's YouTube channel, "Minty07," Kim said, "The president also spoke about the issue of a peace regime in his UN speech," adding, "Many of the major issues we are facing now are ultimately connected to establishing peace."
Kim cited the advancement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities, North Korea's hostile "two-state theory" and recent land mine explosions, emphasizing the need to strengthen autonomous security capabilities in response to the changing security environment.
In particular, he presented the transfer of wartime operational control, the issue of whether to deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz and the introduction of a nuclear-powered submarine as security issues linked to a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula.
Kim said, "The transfer of wartime operational control is proceeding with a certain degree of consensus in both South Korea and the United States, unlike in the past. The same goes for the issue of whether we will deploy troops to the Strait of Hormuz," adding, "The same is true of our efforts to introduce a nuclear-powered submarine."
He emphasized, "Broadly speaking, the nature of inter-Korean relations is changing somewhat from the past, while at the same time we must further strengthen our autonomous security. Nevertheless, these issues can ultimately be resolved only by establishing peace."
As the Democratic Party of Korea has so far focused relatively more on people's livelihoods and domestic political issues, Kim also expressed the party's intention to strengthen party-level discussions on inter-Korean relations and a peace regime.
Kim said, "Although we usually focus mainly on people's livelihoods and domestic democracy, it is time to take another closer look, with greater focus, while remembering that peace, the nation and inter-Korean relations in the broader framework must ultimately be resolved."
He added, "Building on the president's raising of issues concerning the inter-Korean system and a peace regime in his UN speech, the party will also address those issues more earnestly."

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