South Korea's Unification Minister, Chung Dong-young, revealed that the government has shifted its policy direction toward North Korea from previously prioritizing denuclearization to a policy that puts peace first, while affirming that the long-term goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula remains. Speaking at a press conference marking his first year in office, Chung said the administration of President Lee Jae-myung has abandoned the stance of complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization, or CVID, and adopted a peace-first policy. He added that the government is now formulating a strategy for mutual benefits if North Korea halts the production of new nuclear stockpiles. Chung noted that North Korea continues to advance its nuclear program and seeks recognition by major powers as a nuclear-armed state, while the United States and China have also abandoned the policy of North Korea's denuclearization. Meanwhile, North Korea has shown little interest in dialogue with South Korea despite Seoul's conciliatory gestures.