Suwon: Democratic Party presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung has expressed his ambition to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un if elected, while admitting the significant challenges such an endeavor would entail under the present circumstances. During his visit to Ajou University in Suwon, south of Seoul, Lee discussed his foreign policy campaign pledges, which emphasize the improvement of inter-Korean relations.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee acknowledged the difficulty of organizing a summit in the current political climate, stating, "It is something that should obviously be done, but (I) am not sure if it would be possible. It would be very difficult in the current situation." This sentiment reflects the deteriorated state of inter-Korean relations under the Yoon Suk Yeol administration, which adopted a hard-line stance against Pyongyang, eschewing dialogue and engagement.
Despite these challenges, Lee emphasized the need to prepare for a potential summit and highlighted South Korea's role in facilitating another meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Kim Jong-un. Lee noted Trump's openness to dialogue with Kim, suggesting that Seoul could play a crucial part in such diplomatic efforts. During Trump's first term, he and Kim conducted three summits, showcasing a willingness for engagement.
Lee also addressed concerns regarding three-way security cooperation between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo, asserting that such alliances should not impede efforts to improve ties with North Korea. He stated, "The South Korea-U.S. alliance and the South Korea-U.S.-Japan security cooperation are important pillars, but they should work in the direction that helps peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and the Republic of Korea's national interests."
In his campaign pledges, Lee has committed to strengthening cooperation among the three countries. When discussing responses to North Korea's nuclear threat, he ruled out South Korea's own nuclear armament, advocating instead for a freeze on Pyongyang's nuclear program. Lee remarked, "It is neither realistic nor desirable for us to have nuclear arms, so we must proceed with denuclearization by freezing North Korean nukes." He acknowledged the significant role of the U.S. in these efforts, while also highlighting the importance of managing relations with China and Russia effectively.