Bangkok: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday 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 amid questions over whether the reclusive state would accede to Seoul's peace overtures amid its deepening ties with Russia and China.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the message was delivered at the forum hosted by the Korean American Public Action Committee, a nonprofit organization. President Lee emphasized the necessity of restoring trust to ensure peace, stating, "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."
Lee also expressed hope that the Korean community in the U.S. would act as "civilian diplomats" to promote the importance of resuming dialogue between governments for peace on the Korean Peninsula. He clarified that his administration is committed to respecting North Korea's political system and will not pursue reunification through absorption or engage in hostile activities.
The president further underscored that establishing peace is the optimal security policy, stating, "A state in which there is no need for conflict -- in other words, the establishment of peace -- is the best security policy."