SEOUL: South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said on Wednesday the government seeks to implement the North Korea policy in a peaceful and gradual manner, dismissing concerns about the possibility of any radical policy toward Pyongyang.
Chung made the remarks during his meeting with Kim Jong-hyuk, president of the United Christian Churches of Korea, an association of Protestant churches in South Korea.
"We could not imagine (taking) shocking or radical methods (in terms of North Korea policy), " Chung said, addressing concerns raised by the Protestant church circle that the administration of liberal President Lee Jae Myung may be too tolerant toward North Korea, Yonhap News Agency reported.
"Even a good idea cannot be realised if there is no public support, " the minister said. "A radical policy cannot help but invite public animosity."
Chung stressed the government has inherited three principles of North Korea policy -- peaceful, phased and gradual approaches -- from previous liberal governments.