Unification white paper pivots to peaceful coexistence with N. Korea

The Lee Jae Myung government has shifted its focus to peaceful coexistence with North Korea, rather than pressure and confrontation, the unification ministry's white paper showed Monday, striking a markedly different tone from its predecessor. The annual paper reflects the push by the Lee government, which took office in June last year, to repair the strained inter-Korean relationship based on building mutual trust. The previous conservative Yoon Suk Yeol government sought to bring about change in North Korea through pressure and the influx of outside information. The latest white paper laid out three key guiding principles: Seoul respects North Korea's system, does not pursue unification by absorption and does not engage in hostile activities. Built on these principles, the government has framed its overarching policy as one of "peaceful coexistence and mutual growth on the Korean Peninsula." Among the measures cited is the Lee government's decision to halt the sending of anti-Pyongyang leaflets to North Korea and stop loudspeaker broadcasts along the border as steps to ease military ten