What did Lee Jae Myung say about resuming North Korea-U.S. dialogue at the UN General Assembly?

Lee said he hopes the long-suspended dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. can resume without delay. He said South Korea will help lay the groundwork so the talks can expand into discussions among the related parties to end the war on the Korean Peninsula and move toward a peace regime.

Why did Lee Jae Myung say Trump’s stance matters for North Korea talks?

Lee said Trump’s resolve has created an opportunity for change because Trump has repeatedly shown interest in dialogue with Kim Jong-un. He said that opening could help normalize relations among relevant parties and promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia.

What did Lee Jae Myung say South Korea would do about North Korea’s denuclearization and peace?

Lee said South Korea will seek denuclearization through a phased approach, starting with a halt and then reductions in North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities. He also said his administration will push for peaceful coexistence that respects the North's system and seeks cooperation where possible.

Lee vows efforts to help swiftly resume US-N. Korea dialogue

Listen

Summary

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York that he wants North Korea-U.S. dialogue to resume quickly. He said South Korea will help lay the groundwork for talks that could move toward ending the Korean War and building a peace regime. Lee also said denuclearization should proceed in stages and asked the U.N. and Security Council to play a responsible role.

Key Facts

Lee said the Korean Peninsula remains technically at war because the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.
He described the Trump administration's renewed interest in talking with Kim Jong-un as a hard-won opportunity for change.
Lee said South Korea would pursue North Korea's denuclearization through a phased approach that begins with a halt and then reductions in nuclear and missile capabilities.
He said his government wants to respect North Korea's system, build inter-Korean trust, and promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia.
Lee said Seoul hopes to work with North Korea in areas such as public health, disaster response and the climate crisis.

By Yonhap

Published Sep 23, 2026 5:16 am KST
Updated Sep 23, 2026 5:41 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung speaks during the 81st session of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly at U.N. Headquarters, Tuesday, in New York City. World leaders have gathered in New York for the annual session of the United Nations General Assembly, with this year's global issues ranging from the threat of artificial intelligence to the continued wars in Ukraine and Gaza. Getty Images via AFP-Yonhap

NEW YORK — South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday reaffirmed his envisioned role as a "pacemaker" in establishing peace on the Korean Peninsula, pledging efforts to help swiftly resume dialogue between the United States and North Korea.

The South Korean president made the pledge in his address to the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, as U.S. President Donald Trump seeks to revive his diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, while inter-Korean relations remain at a standstill.

"I hope the long-suspended dialogue between North Korea and the U.S. can resume without delay," Lee said.

"We will lay the groundwork for this (U.S.-North Korea dialogue) to develop into a dialogue between the related parties to end the war on the Korean Peninsula and transition into a peace regime."

The two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty.

"Fortunately, President Trump's resolve has recently created a hard-won opportunity for change," Lee said, referring to Trump's repeated expressions of interest in dialogue with the North Korean leader.

Lee said he is confident that such dialogue can provide a framework for normalizing relations among relevant parties and promoting stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia.

As South Korea pursues such efforts, it will also seek the denuclearization of North Korea through a phased approach, beginning with a halt and then reductions in the country's nuclear and missile capabilities, and eventually working toward a Korean Peninsula free from nuclear weapons, he said.

"As a direct party to peace on the Korean Peninsula, and as a pacemaker, my government will exert every effort to open and sustain the path toward dialogue," Lee said, also asking for a responsible and constructive role from the U.N. and its Security Council.

Reiterating his commitment to seeking "peaceful coexistence" with North Korea, the South Korean president said his administration will push for inclusive, stable and responsible coexistence, which he said will respect the North's system, build inter-Korean trust and promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia.

"We will continue to respect the North on the international stage and seek cooperation wherever possible. We hope that opportunities will emerge for us to work together in the international community, in areas such as public health, disaster response and the climate crisis," he said.

Explore More