Key facts
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea, and between the two Koreas.
- Lee delivered a message to a peace forum in Washington, emphasizing the need to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang.
- He stated that restoring trust is essential for peace on the Korean Peninsula.
- Lee's administration has pledged to respect North Korea's political system and avoid hostile actions.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for the resumption of dialogue between the United States and North Korea, as well as between the two Koreas, to achieve lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula. Lee made the call in a written message to a peace forum in Washington, as his administration has sought to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang.
In the message delivered at the forum hosted by the Korean American Public Action Committee, Lee stated, "For a peaceful Korean Peninsula, the restoration of trust is needed. To this end, inter-Korean dialogue and talks between North Korea and the U.S. must reopen." He also expressed hope that the Korean community in the U.S. would act as civilian diplomats to promote the need for government-to-government dialogue.
Lee noted that his administration has stated it will respect North Korea's political system, will not pursue any hostile activities against it, and will not seek reunification through absorption. He added, "A state in which there is no need for conflict -- in other words, the establishment of peace -- is the best security policy."