Seoul: Opposition leader Lee Jae-myung said Thursday that South Korea could be sidelined if stalled talks between the United States and North Korea resume under the new U.S. administration, calling for Seoul's efforts to engage with Pyongyang.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the leader of the main opposition Democratic Party (DP) raised concerns over a potential shift in Washington's North Korea policy following former U.S. President Donald Trump's reference to Pyongyang as a "nuclear power." Trump met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un three times during his first term to discuss Pyongyang's nuclear weapons program, but the talks stalled after the Hanoi summit ended in 2019 without a deal.
"If U.S.-North Korea dialogue resumes, there is a high possibility that our Republic of Korea will be sidelined, and this is a significant concern," Lee said during a press conference, using South Korea's official name.
Lee highlighted the international consensus on the denuclearization of North Korea, noting the U.S. government has not officially recognized Pyongyang as a nuclear-armed state. "We cannot make hasty assumptions about how the new U.S. administration will take on the North Korean nuclear issue," he said. "We must prepare ourselves to respond to any situation."
Lee also stressed the need for a balanced approach, combining dialogue with a strong deterrence strategy. "Strong national defense serves as the basis for deterring North Korea, but at the same time, we must engage in dialogue and communication to find solutions that benefit everyone."