Speaking at the APEC summit, President Lee Jae Myung offered a significant olive branch, even as Pyongyang has constitutionally rejected Seoul as a dialogue partner.
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| Lee Jae Myung, President of South Korea, speaks at a press conference. Lee commented on the end of the Asia-Pacific Economic Community (Apec) summit, which South Korea chaired in 2025. Johannes Neudecker/dpa |
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung delivered a defiant message of peace on Saturday, vowing to continue his policy of rapprochement and engagement with North Korea, despite facing a "diplomatic brick wall" and escalating hostility from Pyongyang.
Speaking at a press conference following the conclusion of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in the historic city of Gyeongju, President Lee outlined a policy that starkly contrasts with the North's recent hardline stance.
"We are taking proactive steps to build trust and make the North feel more secure," Lee told a room of international journalists. "A future of co-existence and co-prosperity is not only possible, it is essential. We will not be deterred by temporary setbacks."
This commitment marks the latest, and most high-profile, attempt by Lee's administration to break a dangerous stalemate on the Korean Peninsula. Since taking office in June, the president, known for his progressive political leanings, has made several attempts to open channels of dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
So far, all have been rebuffed, met either with public silence or volleys of missile tests from Pyongyang.
A "Main Enemy" Cemented in Law
President Lee’s diplomatic push faces an unprecedented challenge. His counterpart, Kim Jong Un, has systematically dismantled the very idea of reconciliation.
Last year, in a move that shocked international observers, Pyongyang formally abolished all agencies related to reunification and, most critically, enshrined South Korea as its "main enemy" in the North Korean constitution.
This was not just rhetoric; it was a fundamental, legal re-engineering of North Korea's state policy, abandoning a decades-long (if nominal) goal of peaceful reunification.
Kim has personally and repeatedly stated that he is "not interested" in dialogue with South Korea, regardless of which government is in power in Seoul. He has directed his regime to prepare for the "complete occupation" of South Korean territory in the event of war.
A Divisive Path
Lee’s insistence on engagement, echoing the "Sunshine Policy" of his liberal predecessors, is a direct challenge to this new reality. His administration is operating on the belief that de-escalation is the only way to prevent a catastrophic miscalculation.
Critics, however both domestically and in allied nations argue that this approach is naive and ignores Pyongyang's clear rejection. They point out that North Korea has used previous periods of engagement to buy time and secure funds for its illicit nuclear and ballistic missile programs.
By making his statement at APEC, an economic forum, President Lee is signaling to the world that he believes economic incentives and security guarantees, not just military deterrence, are key to stability.
As of Monday, Pyongyang has not officially responded to President Lee's APEC comments. The world now watches to see if this latest olive branch will be accepted, or if it will be broken by a regime that has constitutionally declared it has no one to talk to in the South.