On the 21st, the South Korean presidential office released a summary of President Lee Jae-myung’s interview with Japanese media on the 19th.
Lee Jae-myung pointed out that the South Korean government will promote its North Korea nuclear policy toward denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula, and plans to achieve the denuclearization goal through a three-stage process of “freezing, reducing, and abandoning nuclear weapons and missiles.”
This is the first time Lee Jae-myung has proposed a three-stage denuclearization plan.
In the interview, Lee Jae-myung said the South Korean government, based on close cooperation with the United States, will strive to create conditions for the freezing, reduction, and abandonment of North Korean nuclear weapons through active dialogue.
He pointed out that, instead of adopting a confrontational policy toward North Korea, it would be better to explore a path of peaceful coexistence, mutual recognition, and respect for common prosperity between South and North Korea.
He believes that South Korea needs to take the lead in opening the door to dialogue and developing cooperative channels to ease hostility.
Lee Jae-myung emphasized that peace and stability on the peninsula concern not only South Korea itself but also the peace and stability of Northeast Asia, including Japan, China, and Russia.
He believes the development of the Arctic shipping route project is expected to create opportunities for five-party cooperation among the United States, Russia, North Korea, South Korea, and Japan.
Lee Jae-myung will visit Japan from the 23rd and hold talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba.