Unification Minister Hyun In-taek said Tuesday in relation to President Lee Myung-bak's presentation of "three-stage inter-Korean communities," that the peace and economic communities do not follow on each other’s heels. Instead, he said, the two have a synergy where peace and economic cooperation function with overlapping areas.

Hyun said in his congratulatory remarks at a seminar for North Korea studies that establishment of peace on the Korean peninsula is the most urgent task and that the beginning of peace is progress in the denuclearization of North Korea.

The minister added that North Korea needs to take responsibility in the sinking of the “Cheonan” South Korean naval vessel. Through that, Hyun stressed that the two Koreas will be able to establish greater peace and cooperative communities.

In his Liberation Day speech, Lee proposed "three-stage inter-Korean communities," noting peace and economic cooperation, followed by reunification.