Seoul sets 5 -year policy plan to build trust with North Korea

South Korea has finalized an inter-Korean policy plan that places trust-building as the cornerstone to establish sustainable relations with North Korea, the government said Wednesday. The second five-year plan that was first proposed by the Ministry of Unification on Sept. 25 defines the Park Geun-hye administration's policies towards Pyongyang and will focus on achieving "modest forms of unification" and building trust between the two Koreas as its two main objectives. Trust is critical for the two Koreas to expand exchanges and cooperation to achieve so-called modest unification in various bilateral programs that can lead to significant political mergers between the two sides down the road. The step-by-step approach toward building trust has been a key goal of the Park administration that took office in late February. "The finalized plan is effectively unchanged from what was announced last month with minor changes taking place only in the use of certain words," a ministry source said. The 2013-2017 plan moreover outlines the need to create an international peace park within the demilitarized zone that separates the two Koreas. The peace park is a key goal of the incumbent administration. Compared to the initial plan set by the Roh Moo-hyun administration and that which covered the period from 2008 through 2012, the latest policy objectives do not directly mention the creation of a Yellow Sea peace and cooperation zone, or call for transforming the present cease fire arrangement into a permanent peace system that could ease uncertainties on the Korean Peninsula. The Yellow Sea zone was proposed to prevent armed clashes, while a peace system could end the unsteady truce following the Armistice Agreement that halted the 1950-53 Korean War. Since no peace treaty has been signed, South and North Korea are still technically at war. Related to the omission of key policy goals set under the liberal administration, the ministry made clear that Seoul will abide by all past pledges and objectives to advance cross-border relations. The plan will be sent to the National Assembly for review and posted on the official gazette for public viewing.