Lee: "Trump's decision creates the possibility of changes on the Korean Peninsula... We will create conditions for North Korea-U.S. dialogue"

[Financial News] President Lee Jae Myung stated on the 2nd that President Donald Trump's decision had created the possibility of changes in the situation on the Korean Peninsula and that conditions must be actively created to build trust and resume dialogue between North Korea and the United States.
President Lee Jae Myung said at the Peaceful Coexistence Policy Dialogue of the 22nd-term Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Americas Regional Meeting, held at Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon that day, "Now that President Donald Trump's decision has created even a slight possibility of change in the situation on the Korean Peninsula, we must create conditions for constructive discussions to build trust and resume dialogue between North Korea and the United States."
Recently, President Donald Trump ordered a significant reduction in the scale of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, while reiterating his relationship with North Korean Chairman Kim Jong Un and signaling his willingness to resume dialogue with North Korea.
President Lee Jae Myung emphasized, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is not our affair alone," stating that it is "a core task for the security of Northeast Asia in the near term and for world peace in the long term." He added, "As a direct party to this momentous task, I will fulfill my responsibilities by reclaiming wartime operational control."
In particular, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized that South Korea must take the initiative to improve inter-Korean relations rather than wait. He stated, "It is a wall built over more than 80 years. It will not crumble simply by waiting," adding, "That is why we must move. However, we must not rush; we must clearly define our destination and move forward."
He also reiterated the Peaceful Coexistence Initiative presented on the last Liberation Day. Referring to "Inclusive Peaceful Coexistence," put into practice through action; "Stable Peaceful Coexistence," which guarantees substantive security by eliminating factors of military tension; and "Responsible Peaceful Coexistence," which contributes to world peace through peace on the Korean Peninsula, President Lee Jae Myung stated, "Now that we have set a milestone, it is time to move forward."
He added, "Peace does not begin with everyone thinking the same way, but with respecting differences," stating that it is "about listening to different perspectives and learning how to live together." He emphasized that, for stable and responsible peaceful coexistence, "we must transform the armistice system, which is premised on confrontation and conflict, into a peace system based on cooperation and prosperity, so that tensions are not repeated due to changes in domestic politics or fluctuations in international affairs."
However, North Korea claims that the U.S. hostile policy toward it has not changed and has stated its intention to continue strengthening its nuclear capabilities, leaving significant variables before actual dialogue between North Korea and the United States can resume.
President Lee Jae Myung made clear that he would continue efforts toward dialogue despite the circumstances. He said, "The clock on inter-Korean dialogue has been stopped for seven years. The walls have grown higher, and the path is nowhere to be seen," adding, "Nevertheless, we must keep walking. If we walk ahead, a path will emerge. That is the responsibility and mission of our generation."
He urged advisory committee members in the Americas to actively communicate with experts, lawmakers, and citizens in their respective countries of residence, stating, "Our words carry weight when we make our own judgments and act on our own." He added, "Just as our compatriots of the past supported independence, I believe that this time you will step forward and take action for the peaceful reunification of the Korean Peninsula."
[email protected] Seong Seok-woo Reporter