South Korea's Lee urges North Korea to restore dialogue, pledges military buildup

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung urged North Korea to restore dialogue and rebuild trust, following a recent landmine incident that South Korea's military and the UN Command deemed a violation of the armistice. In his address on Armed Forces Day, Lee expressed hope that North Korea would join efforts to mend relations after a prolonged hiatus.

He also pledged consistent efforts to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas. The landmine explosion last week, which injured three South Korean soldiers in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ), prompted Seoul's military and the UN Command to accuse North Korea of violating the armistice. Kim Yo Jong, sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, denied the findings in a statement, accusing Seoul of fabricating the results and warning of possible retaliation.

Lee reiterated his aim of obtaining the transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea, emphasizing it as part of a broader strategy for self-reliant national defense. His defense reform plans include developing nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s and upgrading missile defense capabilities, incorporating AI-based systems and high-energy laser interceptors.

Lee also outlined plans to enhance AI capabilities, restructure the military for contemporary warfare, and bolster the country's three-pronged defense system designed to detect and neutralize missile threats. Despite South Korea's attempts to reestablish dialogue with North Korea, Pyongyang has largely ignored Seoul's overtures, focusing instead on border fortification efforts along the DMZ.