Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced that he would respect North Korea's political system and would not pursue unification by absorption, while also pledging to reinstate the 2018 inter-Korean military agreement to alleviate tensions.
According to Kuwait News Agency, President Lee made these comments during a Liberation Day ceremony in Seoul, commemorating the 80th anniversary of Korea's liberation from Japanese colonial rule. His speech came in the wake of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un's sister, Kim Yo-jong, dismissing a recent reconciliation proposal from the Lee administration as unrealistic.
During his address, President Lee emphasized the need to rebuild trust between the two Koreas to facilitate dialogue, expressing the hope that North Korea would respond positively to South Korea's initiatives. He highlighted the importance of reducing military tensions and stated that South Korea would take "proactive, gradual steps" to reinstate the 2018 military agreement aimed at preventing accidental clashes.
Despite these conciliatory gestures, President Lee reiterated that the denuclearization of North Korea is essential for a stable and peaceful Korean Peninsula. He emphasized that a peaceful future must involve the elimination of nuclear weapons and cooperation with neighboring countries.