Lee Il-gyu, a former Pyongyang counselor in Cuba, stressed the importance of South Korea engaging not only with the general population of North Korea but also with its elites to facilitate internal change within the country. He emphasized the need to reassure North Korean elites that they would not be held accountable if they were to defect and join the South, particularly in light of President Yoon Suk Yeol's Unification Doctrine. Lee highlighted the North Korean regime's tendency to prioritize the interests of the ruling party, which has influenced its foreign policy decisions. Moreover, Hyun In-taek, a former Minister of Unification in South Korea, expressed skepticism about North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's prospects for a breakthrough moment, especially with the re-election of former US President Donald Trump. Hyun suggested that Kim's alliances with both Putin and Trump were uncertain, with potential shifts looming in the aftermath of geopolitical events. He underscored the discrepancy between North Korea's diplomatic engagements and its domestic economic challenges, signaling a precarious position for Kim's regime. Yoo Seong-ok, an expert at the NIS think tank, advocated for a proactive role for South Korea in aiding North Korea's transition by encouraging openness to external information and the desires for freedom among its populace.