President Lee Jae Myung: "Trump's Decision Opens Up the Possibility of Change on the Korean Peninsula"

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 made the remarks at the Peaceful Coexistence Policy Dialogue of the 22nd Peaceful Unification Advisory Council Americas Regional Meeting, held that day at Inspire Entertainment Resort in Incheon. "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," he said.
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," adding 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 continued, "As a direct party to this momentous task, I will fulfill that responsibility by reclaiming wartime operational control."
In particular, President Lee Jae Myung emphasized that the Republic of Korea must take the initiative to improve inter-Korean relations rather than wait. He said, "It is a wall that has been built over more than 80 years. It will not crumble simply because we wait," adding, "That is why we must move. However, we must not rush; we must clearly determine our destination and move forward."
He also reiterated the Peaceful Coexistence Initiative presented on 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 said, "Now that we have set a milestone, it is time to move forward."
He added, "Peace begins not with everyone thinking alike, but with respecting differences," explaining that it means "listening to different views and learning how to live together." He emphasized that, to achieve stable and responsible peaceful coexistence, "we must certainly transform the armistice system, premised on confrontation and conflict, into a peace regime based on cooperation and prosperity so that tensions do not recur with changes in domestic politics or fluctuations in international affairs."
However, North Korea has recently claimed that the United States' hostile policy toward it has not changed and has stated its intention to continue strengthening its nuclear capabilities, leaving considerable uncertainty before dialogue between North Korea and the United States can actually resume.
Despite this, President Lee Jae Myung made clear that he would continue efforts toward dialogue. He said, "The clock on inter-Korean dialogue has been stopped for seven years. The wall has grown higher, and no path is visible," adding, "Even so, we must keep walking. If we walk ahead, a path will emerge. That is the responsibility and mission of our generation."
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