President Lee Jae Myung solutions questions from reporters throughout a press briefing with international correspondents at Cheong Wa Dae, Seoul, Wednesday. Joint Press Corps
President Lee Jae Myung stated Wednesday he intends to increase an apology to North Korea over the earlier authorities’s alleged dispatch of drones to Pyongyang to distribute anti-regime leaflets.
Nevertheless, Lee added that the present home political panorama makes such a gesture troublesome.
Talking at a press briefing with international correspondents at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Lee stated, “You might be studying my thoughts,” when requested if he’s considering of issuing a state-level apology for the motion as a manner to assist to cut back inter-Korean tensions.
“On one aspect, I believe we have to apologize, however on the opposite aspect, I fear that it [an apology] might change into a problem for political, ideological conflicts, the place the administration can be referred to as pro-North Korea,” Lee stated.
Lee’s feedback got here as an investigation continues by a particular counsel in regards to the drone subject. Lee’s predecessor, former President Yoon Suk Yeol, and a few of his shut aides within the navy allegedly ordered the deployment of drones carrying leaflets essential of North Korean chief Kim Jong-un to Pyongyang in October 2024 with a purpose to incite the North to retaliate and use it as a pretext for declaring martial legislation.
Lee additionally described inter-Korean relations as “so sealed that not even a pinhole stays,” emphasizing that Seoul’s unilateral confidence-building measures could also be essential to reopen channels of communication.
The president additionally signaled a willingness to compromise on the long-contentious subject of joint South Korea-U.S. navy workout routines, saying Seoul might talk about scaling them down if essential to facilitate renewed U.S.-North Korea talks.
“Whether it is wanted to construct momentum for dialogue, and if it serves as a strategic lever for the US, we will talk about it,” he stated, reiterating his intention to behave as a “fixed facilitator” in efforts to restart negotiations.
The president emphasised that Washington has larger affect over Pyongyang’s decision-making course of, noting that North Korea’s management views the U.S., quite than South Korea, as the one actor able to offering credible safety assurances. Nonetheless, he argued that Seoul should proceed to create an surroundings conducive to talks, saying this strategy is important for Korea to stay a “principal” in shaping the way forward for the Korean Peninsula.
When requested about deterrence and nuclear coverage, Lee reaffirmed his dedication to the precept of nonproliferation, saying Seoul has “no intention of stepping outdoors the framework of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.”
He added that points akin to uranium enrichment, spent-fuel reprocessing and the potential acquisition of nuclear-powered submarines “don’t violate nonproliferation norms,” as they don’t contain the event of nuclear weapons.
Lee famous that South Korea’s standard capabilities stay greater than adequate to discourage the North, stating that the nation’s protection spending exceeds North Korea’s annual GDP, and that South Korea’s navy power ranks among the many prime 5 globally, even with out U.S. forces stationed on the peninsula.
Nonetheless, he stated sustained efforts to decrease tensions and rebuild dialogue channels are mandatory to forestall the present stalemate from changing into everlasting.
