South Korea’s Lee calls for conditions to resume US-North Korea dialogue

Seoul, South Korea - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has emphasized the need for conditions to be established in order to resume dialogue between the United States and North Korea, according to the presidential Blue House. While speaking at a gathering of overseas advisers on Korean Peninsula peace, Lee also proposed transforming the current armistice system on the Korean Peninsula into a peace system grounded in cooperation and prosperity.

He stressed that the unfortunate reality should be changed, where North and South Korea utilize their strength only to confront each other.

The two Koreas have remained technically in a state of war since their 1950-53 conflict concluded with an armistice, rather than a peace treaty. President Lee further asserted that South Korea should bear its responsibility for peace on the Korean Peninsula by returning operational control from the United States, a pledge he has made to fulfill before his term concludes in 2030.

President Lee has persistently advocated for engagement with North Korea throughout his tenure, despite Pyongyang's characterization of South Korea as a hostile state and the suspension of communication channels. North Korea has also persistently portrayed the US as hostile, even after President Donald Trump's efforts to reinvigorate diplomacy and his call last month to reduce joint US-South Korea military drills, which Pyongyang consistently denounces as rehearsals for an invasion.

The South Korean intelligence agency has suggested that both North Korea and the US appear to be indicating a potential resumption of dialogue, though no specific contacts have been verified as of Tuesday.