Prime Minister Hun Sen has said pressure alone will not address the deeply rooted causes of conflict between the two Koreas. In order to seek peace on the Korean Peninsula, he proposed the “Two States Towards One Nation: One Peninsula, One People, One Culture” initiative in peace talks on the Korean Peninsula.

Hun Sen shared his views on reunification at the World Peace Summit 2022 held in Seoul under the theme “Toward Peace on the Korean Peninsula” on February 13 during his four-day visit.

“Overcoming more than 70 years of turmoil and mistrust will require years of negotiations and confidence-building measures, and the reconciliation process will be gradual. The denuclearisation process will also have to take place, meaning that strategic patience is of the utmost importance,” he said.

“A robust and comprehensive diplomatic engagement is a prerequisite,” he added.

He added that positive engagement with Pyongyang would reduce the risk of further isolation, which in turn would lead to a de-escalation of the vicious cycle of worsening military tensions – and ultimately a toning down of its nuclear ambitions.

In building trust between the two Koreas, Hun Sen urged constant pragmatic engagement from peace negotiators who should focus on targeting “low-hanging fruit” efforts that were less controversial, less sensitive and more practical.

He proposed a “Two States Towards One Nationality, One Peninsula, One People, One Culture” initiative for negotiators to work towards finding peace. He said this initiative was not a totally new concept; it was based on the vision and mission of the Universal Peace Federation (UPF).

“Why two states? The political and governance systems in North and South Korea are completely different. It would be impossible to integrate the two political systems in the foreseeable future,” Hun Sen explained.

“We must accept the fact that the two political systems will have to continue to coexist in parallel. Peaceful coexistence between the two political regimes must be encouraged and promoted,” he said.

He elaborated further on what he meant by “One Nation”, saying Korea has a unified bloodline. The land of Korea could be divided, but the people could not. He cited a Khmer proverb, saying “Blood is thicker than water”.

He also highlighted shared culture as a critical source for peace and reunification, and explained that the Korean desire for renunciation was based on a history of long and proud unity that saw Korea develop into a culturally and ethnically homogenous country with a deep sense of national identity and unity.

Hun Sen believed that this initiative is practical and achievable because it is aimed at promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people ties between the two nations.

The initiative was inspired by UPF’s mission of promoting shared values, mutual prosperity and interdependence, he said.

Heng Kimkong, a visiting senior research fellow at the Cambodia Development Centre, told The Post on February 13 that Hun Sen’s statement reflected his efforts and goodwill towards contributing to building peace in the Korean Peninsula.

“Trust building and involvement from all concerned parties are, no doubt, essential first steps towards paving the way for meaningful discussions to find ways to bring peace to the peninsula,” he said.