Seoul: Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has committed to pursuing "pragmatic" diplomacy aimed at advancing South Korea's national interests and reinforcing trilateral cooperation with the United States and Japan, if elected. Lee, who is currently leading the campaign, shared his foreign policy and national security objectives on Facebook, just over a week before the nation's June 3 election.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee emphasized his intention to base his foreign policy on a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, which he plans to evolve into a comprehensive strategic partnership. He expressed a commitment to repairing trust within the alliance, which he believes has suffered due to past military governance issues, and to fostering a forward-looking approach towards South Korea's relationship with Japan, despite historical tensions.
Lee highlighted the importance of addressing historical disputes with Japan in a principled manner while advancing cooperative ties in social, cultural, and economic domains. He noted that the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration made strides in improving trilateral security cooperation with the U.S., particularly in response to North Korean military threats.
On the topic of China, Lee described Beijing as a crucial trade partner with significant influence over security matters on the Korean Peninsula. He criticized the previous administration for deteriorating bilateral relations and pledged to stabilize South Korea-China relations.
Addressing the conflict between Russia and Ukraine, Lee stated that international relations have entered a new phase, and he promised to engage in pragmatic diplomacy, emphasizing national interests and contributing to Ukraine's reconstruction efforts.
Regarding North Korea's nuclear threats, Lee underscored the urgency of addressing these threats in collaboration with the U.S. He committed to working closely with international partners to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and to restoring inter-Korean communication channels severed under the previous administration.
Lee also outlined his vision for national security and defense, including enhancing military readiness against North Korea's "asymmetric" threats and advancing the extended deterrence system with the U.S. He detailed plans to bolster South Korea's "three-axis" defense system, which includes the Korea Air and Missile Defense system, the Kill Chain preemptive strike platform, and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation system.