[Anchor]
President Lee Jae-myung proposed today on Liberation Day starting discussions among the parties involved to put an end to the prolonged war.
While emphasizing that definite accountability will be pursued for pro-Japanese, anti-national collaborators, he also delivered a future-oriented message calling to open a new 60 years of peace and prosperity together with Japan.
Reporter Kim Hye-young has the details.
[Reporter]
President Lee Jae-myung delivered a congratulatory address for the 81st anniversary of Liberation Day.
He presented a blueprint to put into practice the principles declared last year—respecting the North Korean regime, not pursuing absorption unification, and halting hostile acts.
He laid out three directions: inclusive peaceful coexistence where the South and North respect each other, stable peaceful coexistence where there is no need to fight, and responsible peaceful coexistence that contributes to world peace.
[I hope the South and North will sit down face-to-face for peaceful coexistence and joint growth. This will not be a concession, but the starting point of coexistence.]
In particular, he proposed direct talks, stating that he will embark on a journey to end the war and transform the unstable armistice system into a peace regime.
[Let us begin discussions among the parties involved to put an end to the prolonged war. Through this, effective measures to halt the advancement of North Korea's nuclear capabilities can also be discussed.]
Regarding pro-Japanese, anti-national collaborators, he stated that strict accountability will be enforced through asset investigations and forfeitures.
While his message on South Korea-Japan relations noted that the suffering of past victims and bereaved families still remains, the emphasis was placed on future cooperation.
[As a neighbor that is close yet near, I hope we can open a new 60 years of peace and prosperity together.]
President Lee also stressed that a "new liberation" is needed to propel South Korea to the next level, urging the nation to move forward as an "irreplaceable South Korea" that no other country can substitute.
He announced plans to provide more exceptional respect and treatment to surviving patriots and independence merit recipients, while also expanding the discovery and awarding of honors to unaccredited independence activists.
(Camera Action: Jung Sang-bo, Video Editing: Lee Seung-jin)
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