Lee outlines vision to end hostility on Korean Peninsula

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

NEW YORK CITY — President Lee Jae Myung outlined a sweeping vision to move beyond decades of hostility on the Korean Peninsula, Tuesday, calling for a new era of peaceful coexistence between South and North Korea.

In a keynote address to the 80th United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday, Lee underscored South Korea’s newly adopted slogan, "END," and laid out a series of steps aimed at advancing peace on the Korean Peninsula.

“The most certain peace is a state where there is no need to fight. Through comprehensive dialogue centered on ‘Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization’ — that is, ‘END’ — we must bring an END to the era of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and open a new era of peaceful coexistence and joint growth,” the president explained in his address.

He said that breaking the cycle of military tension and provocation on the Korean Peninsula is a central priority for his administration. Citing steps taken shortly after his inauguration in June, he pointed to the suspension of anti-North Korea leaflet campaigns and loudspeaker broadcasts as part of a broader effort to reduce hostilities. He emphasized that his government will continue to pursue measures aimed at easing tensions and rebuilding trust between the two Koreas.

“The history of inter-Korean relations, with all its ups and downs, has proven the unchanging lesson that exchange and cooperation are the shortest path to peace. By gradually expanding inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, we will open the path toward sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula," Lee said.

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

He also reaffirmed that the South Korean government respects the North’s political system, does not seek unification by absorption, and has no intention of engaging in hostile actions.

The president noted that this year marks both the 80th anniversary of the United Nations’ founding and eight decades since the division of Korea, drawing a parallel between the two timelines. He said South Korea’s postwar history reflects the same core values the U.N. has upheld over the past 80 years — a shared commitment to safeguarding human dignity and shaping a better future for coming generations. He framed Korea’s own journey as part of that broader global pursuit.

“If someone asks what the U.N. has accomplished, I will confidently answer, ‘Look at the 80-year history of the Republic of Korea.’ Korea was liberated from colonial rule in the year the U.N. was founded, and with the U.N.’s help, it preserved its national identity amid the scars of division and the ruins of war, achieved industrialization, and blossomed into a democracy,” the president proclaimed.

Lee pledged that the South Korean government will fulfill its role as a responsible global power, firmly defending the U.N.’s values of freedom, human rights, inclusiveness and solidarity. He stressed that in challenging times, the international community must return to the U.N.’s founding spirit of faith in universal human values.

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, Tuesday (local time). Yonhap

He also underscored the growing global resonance of South Korean culture, framing its diversity as a symbol of peaceful coexistence. He argued that peace is not merely the absence of armed conflict, but the creation of a community grounded in mutual respect and the ability to live together despite differences. As long as the values of diversity and inclusion endure, he said, solidarity and mutual acceptance remain within reach — a message he tied to the cultural influence of what has come to be known as K-culture.

“Beyond borders, languages, and cultural differences, K-culture is connecting people around the world as one. The success and spread of K-culture proves that universal empathy among humanity is possible regardless of background. By gathering the energy of solidarity, coexistence and consideration, the Republic of Korea — which has built a new democratic republic — stands ready to move toward a sustainable future and a new history for humankind.” the Korean president stated.

He wrapped up his address by looking to the future.

On Wednesday (local time), he will chair an open debate at the U.N. Security Council, where he expressed hope that the discussions will play a meaningful role in advancing the international community’s efforts toward the responsible use of AI. He also highlighted that at next month’s APEC Summit in Gyeongju, South Korea will present its vision for the future of AI through the “APEC AI Initiative.”