Lee Requests Support for END Initiative... Presidential Office Says 'ASEAN Countries Express Strong Support'

Financial News, Kuala Lumpur (Malaysia) — At the ASEAN-Republic of Korea Summit on the 27th, President Lee Jae Myung outlined the government’s policy for peace on the Korean Peninsula, receiving expressions of support from many ASEAN member states.
During the summit in Kuala Lumpur, President Lee called on the leaders of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) to support the government’s policy for peaceful coexistence and joint growth on the Korean Peninsula.
The core of President Lee’s peace policy, as presented, is the Exchange-Normalization-Denuclearization Initiative (END Initiative), which he previously mentioned at the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York. President Lee stated, “We aim to restore broken trust between the two Koreas and resume dialogue. We will expand exchanges and cooperation and pursue normalization with the international community.” He added, “Through denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, we will establish lasting peace.”
Kang Yu-jeong, spokesperson for the Office of the President of South Korea, explained in a related briefing, “President Lee essentially reiterated what he has already said,” adding, “It can be understood that he conveyed the details of the END Initiative, just without explicitly naming it.”
She further noted, “Many leaders expressed their support for the Korean Peninsula peace policy in their remarks.” Kang added, “It is likely that the forthcoming ASEAN statement will include ASEAN’s support or agreement.”
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter