Lee vows efforts to swiftly restore dialogue channel with N. Korea

Yonhap, Philippine News Agency

FILE: Lee takes the presidential oath of office in the Rotunda Hall of the National Assembly, 4 June 2025. (Photo By Republic of Korea from Seoul, Republic of Korea/Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 2.0)

SEOUL – President Lee Jae-myung vowed efforts Sunday to quickly restore suspended dialogue channels with North Korea, aiming to ease military tensions and build peace between the two Koreas.

Lee delivered the message on his Facebook account to mark the 25th anniversary of the June 15 Declaration, signed by the late former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and the late former North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during their 2000 summit.

“In order to alleviate military tensions and foster a peaceful atmosphere, I will restore the crisis management system, starting with the recovery of the suspended dialogue channels between the South and the North,” Lee wrote.

“The Lee Jae-myung government will end hostile, wasteful acts and resume dialogue and cooperation,” the President added.

He described the 2000 inter-Korean declaration as a starting point for a new era of inter-Korean reconciliation and cooperation between the two Koreas, calling the 2000 summit a moment that demonstrated the potential for shared prosperity.

Lee added that history has shown a lapse in peace can threaten not only the economy and security, but also the daily lives of the people, emphasizing that “peace is the economy.”

He pledged to make his utmost efforts toward peaceful coexistence and co-prosperity on the peninsula. (Yonhap)