South Korean President Lee Jae-myung called on North Korea to sit down face-to-face and turn the page on a war that has raged for more than seven decades, and to discuss practical ways to freeze Pyongyang's nuclear program.
During his speech at the 81st anniversary celebration of Liberation Day, he told me: "Let us put aside our intentions to threaten each other, and let us begin discussions to end the long-standing war as the parties directly involved."
He added that these talks could include "effective ways to halt the advancement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities."
Legally, the two Koreas remain at war since the fighting ended in 1953 with a fragile armistice that was never replaced by a peace treaty.
The president pledged to transform the "unstable truce system" into a lasting peace agreement, proposing the creation of a "multi-tiered security system" to manage tensions and prevent a slide into new crises. He said, "I will transform the energy of hostility and confrontation into momentum for peaceful coexistence and mutual growth."
This offer comes despite North Korea's continued disregard for the repeated reconciliation initiatives launched by Lee since he took office in June of last year. However, the president reaffirmed his commitment to dialogue, emphasizing the need for "each side to respect the other and cease unnecessary confrontations, beginning with reducing hostility in perceptions, standards, and systems."
Regarding relations with Japan, Lee praised the "shuttle diplomacy" that brought the two countries together during the past year, stressing his government's determination to expand cooperation in supply chains, energy and advanced technologies, and to open "a new era of peace and prosperity."
In the context of his economic vision, the president stressed the need for his country to become "an indispensable nation to the world" in the field of advanced technologies, pledging to support young people, build "a strong ladder of opportunity," and pursue assets that were illegally amassed during the Japanese colonial era (1910–1945).
