Chairman Jeong Dae-chul of the Association of Former National Assembly Members of Korea [Yonhap News Photo]

Jeong Dae-chul, chairman of the Association of Former National Assembly Members of Korea, an organization of former lawmakers, defined North Korea's "hostile two-state" policy toward South Korea as an anti-national theory of permanent division and emphasized the need for an appropriate government response.

Speaking as an invited lecturer at the "Unification Forum" held at the Heungsadan Auditorium in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Chairman Jeong argued, "The two-state theory proposed by North Korean Chairman Kim Jong-un is a theory of permanent division, an anti-national act, and anti-historical," adding, "It overturns the justification for unification and the claim of a single Korean people by Kim Il-sung and Kim Jong-il."

He explained the background of North Korea's adoption of the two-state theory, stating, "They have realized the reality that it is difficult to win the competition against South Korea and intend to gain international recognition for their status as a nuclear-armed state, thereby making it permanent."

He added, "The South Korean government must maintain the uncompromising principle of absolutely not compromising on opposing permanent division," and "The principle of firmness, responding resolutely and promptly to North Korean provocations, is also necessary."