President Lee, Le Monde Interview... "Pacemaker for North Korea-U.S. Dialogue and Constitutional Amendment for Decentralization of Power"

[Financial News Nice (France) · Seoul = Reporters Seong Seok-woo and Choi Jong-geun]In an interview with French media, President Lee Jae Myung expressed his intention to act as a "pacemaker" for the resumption of North Korea-U.S. dialogue. Regarding domestic politics, he stated his position that a constitutional amendment is necessary to strengthen presidential accountability and more appropriately distribute authority.
On the 6th (local time), the French daily Le Monde published the contents of a written interview conducted ahead of President Lee's visit to France. President Lee arrived in Nice, France, on the same day and began his state visit schedule. On the 8th (local time), he will hold a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.
In an interview regarding the Korean Peninsula issue, President Lee expressed his intention to "facilitate the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the United States by playing the role of a pacemaker."
He predicted that through this process, "effective measures to deter North Korea's nuclear capabilities could also be discussed." President Lee stated, "I do not think that the wall of distrust built up over a long period will crumble in the short term with just a few knocks."
He added that in this year's Liberation Day speech, he presented a vision for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula based on three principles, mentioning 'inclusive peaceful coexistence' based on mutual respect, 'stable peaceful coexistence' that eliminates the need for confrontation, and 'responsible peaceful coexistence' that contributes to world peace.
Regarding domestic political issues, he emphasized the necessity of a constitutional amendment.
President Lee stated that he is also focusing on preventing a recurrence of political crises, such as former President Yoon Suk Yeol's failure to declare a state of emergency in December 2024. He emphasized, "I will ensure that the democracy won through countless sacrifices is never threatened again."
Le Monde reported that the measures currently under discussion include "strengthening the requirements for declaring a state of emergency and specifying the spirit of the May 18 Democratization Movement in the preamble of the Constitution."
President Lee expressed the position that "(constitutional amendment) is necessary to strengthen presidential responsibility and more appropriately distribute authority."
Regarding the issue of the judicial system, he explained that reforms are being pursued "to prevent the excessive concentration of power and to prevent the abuse of power."
Remarks were also made regarding the ROK-U.S. alliance and Korea-Japan relations. President Lee stated, "I do not believe President Trump is questioning the sustainability of the ROK-U.S. alliance," adding, "I understand President Trump's position as a move away from traditional views on the alliance to reflect the demands of a changing era. Accordingly, the Korean government is enhancing Korea's role and burden within the alliance by increasing defense spending and continuously expanding necessary core military capabilities."
He went on to explain that the alliance between South Korea and the United States is evolving into a "future-oriented comprehensive strategic alliance" through shipbuilding cooperation and the strengthening of the global artificial intelligence ecosystem.
Regarding Korea-Japan relations, he stated, "It is not necessary to resolve all conflicts to move forward together," expressing his intention to pursue gradual cooperation starting with areas where common interests can be secured. In this context, he also cited the example of cooperation between France and Germany in the coal and steel sectors.
Regarding relations with France, there was also mention of the 'solidarity of independent nations' initiative raised in the wake of the Strait of Hormuz crisis during French President Emmanuel Macron's visit to South Korea last April.
In relation to this initiative, President Lee emphasized the importance of "close cooperation, in particular, among countries that share common values ​​such as democracy, human rights, and the rule of law."
He went on to describe the solidarity pursued by South Korea as "practical and open cooperation in which capable nations complement and develop the existing international order through sector-specific cooperation."
At the same time, it stated, "We are simultaneously pursuing efforts for self-strengthening to protect ourselves through our own power, as well as efforts to deepen and develop existing alliances to suit the times and reality."
He also expressed anticipation for cooperation in the cultural sector through this visit to France. President Lee stated that based on their respective strengths, South Korea and France "can jointly lead a new cultural path where technological advancement and human creativity harmonize."
[email protected] Choi Jong-geun, Seong Seok-woo Reporter