Lee vows to pursue peace on Korean Peninsula through dialogue based on firm deterrence

President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Tuesday to persist in promoting peaceful coexistence and mutual prosperity on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue grounded in firm deterrence.

Delivering a video address for the inauguration of the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), Lee emphasized the necessity of enhanced security collaboration amidst unprecedented and intricate challenges in the international security landscape.

Lee reiterated his commitment to persistently strive for peaceful coexistence and shared prosperity on the peninsula through trust and dialogue anchored in firm deterrence.

He elaborated that South Korea is endeavoring to expand the scope for dialogue on peace and prosperity by fostering mutual respect and cooperation on the basis of its autonomous defense capabilities.

Lee pointed out that conflicts and armed clashes persist globally, and the global nuclear nonproliferation regime, which has sustained global peace for decades, is also under severe threat.

Lee also highlighted that cutting-edge technologies, such as artificial intelligence (AI), have emerged as novel security threats that are difficult to predict.

He advocated for a new paradigm of security cooperation based on robust deterrence, adherence to international norms, and collective resilience, stating that such challenges cannot be tackled by any single nation.