On December 6-8 2021, the Chey Institute held the Trans-Pacific Dialogue 2021. During the inaugural conference, foreign policy advisors of the two main South Korean presidential candidates provided a special address outlining their candidates’ North Korea policy.

Ambassador Wi Sung Lac, chairman of Presidential Candidate Lee Jae-myung’s Foreign Policy Committee, described Candidate Lee’s policy for denuclearization and peace on the peninsula as being guided by the following two principles. First, a holistic approach must be taken to find a comprehensive solution, and second, although negotiation with North Korea will be conducted flexibly, any wrongdoing by North Korea must be responded to in a “square” manner. Under these principles, Ambassador Wi outlined Candidate Lee’s policies in five points: 1) Use a variety of measures including incentives and sanctions; 2) Pursue both denuclearization and establishing peace to generate a synergy effect; 3) Conduct international coordination and inter-Korean talks side by side; 4) Pursue a step-by-step approach in big chunks; 5) And mix easier issues with more significant ones in the first chunk.

Professor Kim Sung-han, Foreign Policy Advisor to now President-elect Yoon Seok-youl, summarized Yoon’s North Korea Policy in five points: 1) President-elect Yoon pursues a complete denuclearization of North Korea; 2) The UN Security Council Sanctions Resolution must remain intact to make real progress in denuclearization, and a package of incentives (such as economic assistance), not sanctions relief, should be prepared. Humanitarian assistance will be provided before denuclearization; 3) An end-of-war declaration would be premature at this point; 4) Extended deterrence should be bolstered between the ROK and the United States. A ROK-U.S. consultation process for US deployment of strategic nuclear delivery systems should be put in place; 5) And the ROK-U.S. alliance is the central axis of ROK foreign affairs and national security, which the Yoon government will rebuild by sharing its visions on the foundation of liberal, democratic values.