South Korean Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun said Tuesday that North Korea may amend its ruling ideology of "juche", or self-reliance, since it has exhibited numerous changes to its political system by partially adopting market economic principles.

Jeong was responding to questions regarding possible changes in the North's Juche and its "military-first" policies in a speech to the New York-based Korea Society.

He said the reclusive North has already changed much since 1999 when capitalist economic elements were first introduced into the nation.

Jeong also said Pyongyang's policy of giving top priority to the country's 1.17-million-strong military, despite provocative implications, should be regarded as an effort at efficient management.

Describing a change of system as having three steps a symbolic change, a meaningful change and a fundamental and irreversible change the unification minister said North Korea is entering the second stage.

He said the North would be able to move to the third phase if the United States helps it along, and urged Washington to adopt a softened stance toward the communist state.