Lee reaffirms conciliatory stance toward North Korea

이재명 대통령이 21일 청와대 영빈관에서 신년기자회견을 하고 있다.[사진=연합뉴스]

SEOUL, January 21 (AJP) - President Lee Jae-myung on Wednesday reaffirmed his conciliatory approach toward North Korea to help reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

In a televised press conference marking the new year at Cheong Wa Dae in central Seoul, Lee pledged to "move forward without wavering toward a future of peaceful coexistence and shared growth," adding that peace-backed stable growth could enable the economy to "take another leap."

He added that he will step up diplomatic efforts to resume inter-Korean talks, with South Korea playing a role as a "pacemaker" to bring North Korea to the dialogue table with the U.S.

To prevent "accidental clashes" along the border, Lee added that he plans to restore the inter-Korean military pact signed in 2018 as part of efforts to ease military tensions between the two Koreas.

The pact was effectively suspended in 2024 as inter-Korean relations sharply worsened under the previous administration's firm stance toward the North.

He also pledged to seek "creative solutions" for mutually beneficial peace and "feasible measures" to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula, adding that any thaw in inter-Korean relations would take time.

Citing North Korea's growing nuclear arsenal, Lee stressed a "pragmatic and gradual approach" to halt the North's nuclear weapons program, with the ultimate goal of denuclearization in the long term.
Choe In-hyeok 기자 inhyeok31@ajunews.com

- Copyright ⓒ [아주경제 ajunews.com] 무단전재 배포금지 -