Archive · 8 Sep 2026
Lee Vows Korean Peninsula Peace Through Dialogue and Deterrence
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung wants peace between South Korea and North Korea.
He said the countries should talk to each other and respect their differences.
He also said South Korea must remain strong enough to discourage attacks.
Lee wants the two Koreas to replace their long military standoff with a lasting peace arrangement.
He hopes to help restart talks between North Korea and the United States.
He said peace on the peninsula is important for Northeast Asia and the wider world.
Lee also warned that wars, nuclear risks and new technologies such as artificial intelligence are creating security problems.
He believes countries must work together because no single country can solve these problems alone.
His plan combines dialogue, strong defence and international cooperation.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged to pursue peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity with North Korea.
Lee said dialogue should be supported by firm deterrence, independent defence capabilities and mutual respect.
He called for stronger international security cooperation amid conflicts, nuclear risks and emerging artificial intelligence threats.
Lee reaffirmed plans to establish a permanent peace regime replacing the Korean Peninsula’s armistice-based confrontation.
He urged Seoul to help restart dialogue between North Korea and the United States.
- Who
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, with references to North Korea, the United States and President Donald Trump.
- What
- Lee pledged to pursue peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity through dialogue based on firm deterrence, while seeking a permanent peace regime.
- When
- He made the latest remarks on Tuesday, September 8, and reiterated related commitments on September 2.
- Where
- The latest remarks were delivered in a video message for the Seoul Defence Dialogue; the September 2 meeting took place in Incheon, west of Seoul.
- Why
- Lee said dialogue and cooperation are needed to reduce confrontation, address nuclear and other security threats, and promote peace in Northeast Asia and the world.
- South Korean president
- Lee Jae Myung
- Core approach
- Dialogue based on firm deterrence
- Peace objective
- Peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity on the Korean Peninsula
- Proposed diplomatic role
- Seoul should help create conditions for renewed North Korea-United States dialogue
- Current status
- The two Koreas have technically remained at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty
- Security concerns
- Global conflicts, threats to nuclear nonproliferation and rapidly advancing technologies including artificial intelligence
- Cooperation model
- Strong deterrence, international norms and shared resilience