Lee vows ‘pacemaker’ role as potential US-N.Korea talks offer hope for inter-Korean breakthrough

President Lee Jae Myung has taken on the role of "pacemaker" as hopes rise for potential talks between the United States and North Korea. Lee has praised President Donald Trump, calling him a "peacemaker," and sees the proposed summit as an opportunity to establish peace on the Korean Peninsula. On X, Lee expressed empathy for Trump's efforts to create conditions for peace talks, even if it means scaling back US-South Korea military exercises.

Trump, in a message to his social media platform Truth Social, ordered the exercises to be scaled back due to his good relationship with North Korea's leader, Kim Jong Un. Lee vowed to support Trump's efforts and pledged to play his role as a pacemaker. The South Korean president has previously proposed serving as a pacemaker for US-North Korea dialogue, supporting denuclearization and peace on the peninsula.

South Korean government agencies have pledged their support for resuming US-North Korea dialogue. The Ministry of Unification emphasized the importance of ending the war and creating a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. Unification Minister Chung Dong-young urged for talks between the US and North Korea, stating that the first hurdle to stopping North Korea's nuclear program is a meeting between the two nations.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also vowed to support these talks, highlighting Lee's role as a pacemaker and stakeholder in peace on the Korean Peninsula.