Lee Hyo-jin covers the Bank of Korea, the banking industry and broader financial news. Her previous beats include foreign affairs, North Korea and general reporting on Korean society.
President prioritizes 'peaceful coexistence' over unification with North Korea
President Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Wednesday. Yonhap
By Lee Hyo-jin
Lee pins hopes on potential Trump-Kim talks in breaking inter-Korean deadlock
President Lee Jae Myung said Wednesday that the nation's ultimate goal of Korean unification is not an immediate priority, stressing that avoiding conflict and pursuing peaceful coexistence with North Korea should come first.
His remarks reflect a pragmatic assessment of the current state of inter-Korean relations, with Pyongyang remaining unresponsive to the Lee administration’s repeated overtures toward rapprochement.
"Unification feels like a distant prospect at the moment. We would be fortunate simply to avoid a war. Setting that aside for now, we must do everything possible to move toward a situation in which peaceful coexistence is achievable," Lee said during a New Year's press conference at Cheong Wa Dae.
Lee also emphasized the importance of Washington's role in easing tensions with Pyongyang.
"In that process, the role of the United States is very important," he said. "U.S. President Donald Trump is, in some ways, an unconventional figure. But I believe that quality could prove helpful in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula."
The president added that he was prepared to play a facilitating role, describing himself once more as a "pacemaker," as Trump signals a willingness to engage with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Officials in Seoul have been hoping that Trump's outreach to Kim could serve as a breakthrough in inter-Korean relations. Speculation has been growing about the possibility of renewed U.S.-North Korea talks around the time of Trump's planned visit to China in April.
When asked about a strategy for achieving the long-standing goal of denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula, Lee emphasized the need for a practical, step-by-step approach.
"North Korea is armed with nuclear weapons and is eagerly seeking formal recognition as a nuclear-armed state," Lee said. "We need to acknowledge reality, but without abandoning our ideals."
He added that past approaches that prioritized ideals over reality had failed to curb the North's nuclear ambitions.
"Negotiations (with North Korea) should begin with what is immediately achievable," Lee said. "The most realistic first step would be a halt, paired with limited compensation, while keeping the ultimate goal intact. The next stage would be nuclear arms reduction, or negotiations on reducing nuclear capabilities."
"Over the longer term, we should work toward denuclearization," he said.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un gives a speech during his visit to a construction site of the Sinuiju Greenhouse Farm, Jan. 2, in this photo released the next day by the North's state-run Korean Central News Agency. Yonhap
Lee’s reference to nuclear arms reduction talks suggests a possible shift in South Korea’s approach to its denuclearization strategy. Traditionally, Seoul has avoided the language of arms reduction, instead framing complete denuclearization as the ultimate goal.
While arms reduction talks do not necessarily require the formal recognition of a counterpart's nuclear-armed status, Pyongyang has consistently sought to frame such negotiations as implicit acceptance of its claim to being a nuclear power.
Lee's comments may also be interpreted as aligning with Trump's stance toward North Korea. The U.S. president has repeatedly described North Korea as a "nuclear power," prompting speculation that he could move toward acknowledging its nuclear status as a basis for renewed talks.
Meanwhile, Lee stressed the need for a firm response to actions that threaten national security, referring to an ongoing investigation into alleged drone incursions into North Korea.
He said that the drone incident has only given Pyongyang pretext to question the sincerity of Seoul's conciliatory gestures, further complicating efforts to restore inter-Korean relations.
A joint investigation team of police and military has been examining allegations that civilians sent drones toward Pyongyang. Earlier on Wednesday, the investigators searched the homes and offices of three suspects.
The probe was launched last week after the North claimed that Seoul had infringed its sovereignty through drone incursions in September and on Jan. 4. South Korea's military immediately denied any involvement.