▲ President Lee Jae-myung presides over the Ulchi National Security Council meeting at the National Crisis Management Center of Cheong Wa Dae on the 18th.
President Lee Jae-myung expressed his stance regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's active moves to resume North Korea-U.S. dialogue, such as ordering a scale-down of the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, stating, "I empathize with President Trump's will and efforts, and pay tribute to his decisive action."
President Lee posted on his social media today (the 20th), saying, "I carefully looked at the social media messages and photos recently posted by President Trump," referring to President Trump's recent messages.
Previously, President Trump stated on the 17th, the very day the Ulchi Freedom Shield joint exercise began, that he had ordered a significant reduction in the scale of the drills.
President Lee wrote, "This message from President Trump feels like a major decision containing deep contemplation to create peace beyond hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula."
He added, "Believing that a peace regime where there is no need to fight is the most perfect security asset, we empathize with President Trump's will and efforts to create conditions for dialogue to build a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula—even through the reduction of this South Korea-U.S. joint exercise and field maneuver training—and we pay tribute to his decisive action."
President Lee reflected, "I am reminded of when I first met President Trump at the White House about a year ago, volunteering to act as a 'pacemaker' for peace on the Korean Peninsula, the world's only divided nation, while asking him to play the role of a 'peacemaker'."
He continued, "During the G7 and NATO summits, we also had serious discussions with President Trump for the restoration of peace on the Korean Peninsula and the resolution of the nuclear issue," explaining, "As I have stated several times, I will do my utmost in my role as a pacemaker to facilitate President Trump's peacemaker activities."
He also stated, "In accordance with the agreement between South Korea and the U.S., the Republic of Korea is securing sufficient capabilities to handle its own defense, such as rapidly increasing defense spending to achieve 3.5 percent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP)," adding, "I fully agree with President Trump's determination that South Korea must take responsibility for the security of the Korean Peninsula."
Regarding the free navigation of the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee said, "The South Korean government has stated on various occasions that it will actively join the international community's efforts, including those of the U.S., to restore free navigation in the Strait of Hormuz," and added, "To this end, our government will continue to communicate closely with the U.S. side on various practical contribution measures within the bounds tolerable by South Korea's laws and basic policies, just as we have done so far."
This is interpreted as a message keeping in mind President Trump's recent remarks that he had asked South Korean President Lee Jae-myung if he was willing to join efforts for Iran's denuclearization, but received the answer, "No thanks."
President Lee concluded his message by saying, 'I look forward to reuniting with the respected President Trump in the U.S. before long.'
(Photo: Provided by Cheong Wa Dae, Yonhap News)
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