Lee Jae Myung on North Korea

Lee Jae Myung's core North Korea policy emphasizes ending the decades-long era of confrontation and conflict through renewed dialogue and establishing a foundation of mutual trust. This approach centers on actively working to restart talks with Pyongyang, positioning Seoul to act as a "pacemaker" by coordinating with the United States and neighboring countries to facilitate dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. A key component of his stated position is a commitment to respect the North's political system and explicitly reject any pursuit of unification by absorption, signaling a significant departure from previous hardline stances.

This policy framework, referred to as END (Exchange, Normalization, Denuclearization) by analysts, seeks to create atmospheric easing through actions like suspending border loudspeaker broadcasts and investigating past provocative incidents, such as drone incursions, to prevent tension. While North Korea has recently reaffirmed its hardline stance, the administration intends to use its diplomatic agility to create an opening for engagement, aiming to convert the current armistice system into a peace regime based on coexistence and shared prosperity in Northeast Asia.