TOKYO - The two Koreas are moving towards co-existence in a "permanent peace regime" and not reunification, even if North Korea were to fulfil its promise to fully denuclearise, experts told a policy forum here on Thursday (Sept 13).

One reason for this, said Dr Choi Kang of South Korea's Asan Institute for Policy Studies, is the high socioeconomic cost to Seoul, which would have to shoulder the hefty bill for any reunification.