President Lee vows to prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas, push to restore September 19 Military Agreement

According to The Financial News, President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea expressed his commitment to easing tensions and resuming dialogue between the two Koreas in his opening remarks at the 2026 New Year press conference on the 21st. He stated, "To prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas and to build political and military trust, we will work to restore the September 19 Military Agreement."
Addressing the situation on the Korean Peninsula, Lee Jae Myung said, "As a 'pacemaker,' we will make every diplomatic effort so that North Korea–United States dialogue can take place as early as possible, and we will create conditions for inter-Korean dialogue to resume." He went on to stress, "The sharp chill will not melt away at once, but we will consistently pursue realistic measures that can draw a response from the North and ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
Lee Jae Myung also set out alliance, defense, and pragmatic diplomacy as the main pillars of his North Korea policy. He said, "On the basis of a solid ROK-US Alliance, strong self-reliant defense, and national-interest-oriented pragmatic diplomacy, we will advance peace on the Korean Peninsula and take a meaningful step toward a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula." He further underlined that the government will "move forward unwaveringly toward a future of peaceful coexistence and shared growth."
Lee Jae Myung added that "'Sustainable growth based on safety' will be firmly established as a core principle of state affairs," and announced, "We will decisively implement measures that embed safe working environments and respect for life, such as increasing the number of labor inspectors by 3,500 and creating new workplace safety guardians." He also said, "We will implement to the maximum all measures possible within the existing system, and if necessary, we will revise and newly establish relevant laws and institutions."
On the principles of state governance, Lee Jae Myung stated, "The first governing principle of a people-sovereign government is 'only the lives of the people,'" adding, "Our direction is realistic pragmatism that goes beyond ideology, camps, and political strife." Regarding "cheating, privilege, and unfairness" that undermine people’s lives, he emphasized, "No matter how trivial a problem may seem, we will correct it firmly."
He also reaffirmed his determination to push ahead with prosecutorial reform. Lee Jae Myung said, "In the same vein, we will also push prosecutorial reform decisively," adding, "If necessary, we will continue to supplement the relevant laws and systems." However, he stressed, "This process will not move in a direction that dilutes the essence of reform," and added, "There will be no stopping or wavering on account of resistance or burdens."

west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo Reporter