Lee Jae Myung on Kim Jong Un
TL;DR
Lee Jae Myung advocates for sustained dialogue and trust-building efforts to normalize relations with the North despite Pyongyang's hostility.
Key Points
He emphasized on March 1 that his administration respects the North's system and will not pursue unification by absorption.
His administration seeks to resume inter-Korean dialogue, despite Pyongyang recently rejecting diplomatic overtures as a "clumsy, deceptive farce."
The president's strategy involves sustained efforts to build trust, viewing it as the path to achieving structural peace and stability on the peninsula.
Summary
President Lee Jae Myung maintains that the deep-seated hostility between the South and North cannot be resolved instantly, emphasizing the necessity of continuous, mutual efforts to build trust and achieve peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. His administration respects the North's system and explicitly rejects any hostile acts or unification by absorption, continuing a push for dialogue even after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un reaffirmed a hostile two-state relationship.
His approach, framed as the Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization (END) initiative, follows a progressive tradition of engagement, prioritizing low-stakes exchanges and normalization before full denuclearization, which he acknowledges cannot be achieved in the short term. This strategy is implemented in a challenging environment marked by Pyongyang's constitutional definition of the South as an enemy and increased strategic backing for the North from other powers, potentially limiting the engagement's utility to risk management.
Key Quotes
we respect the North's system and will neither engage in any type of hostile acts, nor pursue any form of unification by absorption
“We will also continue our efforts to resume dialogue with the North”
Frequently Asked Questions
Lee Jae Myung advocates for resuming dialogue and building trust with the North, viewing sustained engagement as necessary for peace. He respects the North's system while pushing for dialogue, despite Kim Jong Un's firm rejection of diplomatic thawing with Seoul.
His current approach continues the progressive tradition of dialogue and reconciliation, similar to his liberal predecessors. However, he frames it as a pragmatic, sequenced policy known as END, acknowledging the far more difficult strategic environment.
The president explicitly called for the resumption of dialogue with North Korea following Pyongyang's hostile declarations. He stressed that mutual and sustained efforts are required to overcome historical confrontation and build empathy.
Sources5
President Lee Jae Myung Stresses Sustained Efforts for Inter-Korean Relations
South Korea calls for resuming dialogue with North | The Straits Times
How Lee Jae Myung Hopes to Rebuild Leverage on the Korean Peninsula
Lee Jae Myung's END Strategy: Path to Progress or Dead End?
South Korea calls for resuming dialogue with North｜Arab News Japan
* This is not an exhaustive list of sources.