South Korea’s Unification Minister Chung Dong-young announced a shift from a denuclearization-first framework to a peace-first approach, prioritizing a freeze of North Korea’s nuclear program as a first step while reopening stalled dialogue. He said the goal is now a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, redefining the policy to drop the traditional Complete, Verifiable, Irreversible Dismantlement standard as a precondition for talks. Chung argued that denuclearization-first is unrealistic and noted that major powers have moved away from that doctrine, framing the policy change as a pragmatic pivot in the face of North Korea’s advancing arsenal. The plan envisions a three-step process: freeze North Korea’s program, pursue arms reductions, and aim for denuclearization, with reciprocal benefits tied to North Korea halting new activity. Officials emphasized resuming dialogue should come first, given seven years without talks, and highlighted coordination with broader regional powers as part of returning to diplomacy. The shift also entails replacing the term denuclearization of North Korea with the broader goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula, under a peace-first strategy amid ongoing tensions.