President Lee: "We Will Do Our Best to Ensure North Korea–U.S. Dialogue Leads to Discussions on Ending the Korean War and Establishing a Peace Regime"

8th Anniversary Address for the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration and the Inter-Korean Military Agreement

"Signs That the Winds Are Stirring Again...Knocking Once More on the Door of North Korea–U.S. Dialogue"

"Starting with What We C

On September 18, President Lee Jaemyung stated, "Our government will do its utmost to ensure that the movement toward dialogue between North Korea and the United States leads to the actual resumption of talks, and that discussions develop into ending the Korean War and establishing a peace regime." He presented the vision of seeking a breakthrough in the long-stalled inter-Korean relations through talks between North Korea and the United States, while also taking steps that the South Korean government can pursue to gradually deescalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

President Lee Jae-myung is answering reporters' questions at the Blue House Reception Hall press conference on September 18, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News

In a congratulatory message sent to the ceremony marking the 8th anniversary of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration and the inter-Korean military agreement on this day, President Lee said, "There are faint signs that the still winds are starting to move again," and noted, "There are also efforts knocking once more on the door to North Korea-U.S. dialogue." The message was read on his behalf by political advisor Kim Kyungsoo.

Looking back on the situation on the Korean Peninsula in 2018, President Lee said, "The winds of peace that began in PyeongChang continued through Panmunjom and Singapore to Pyongyang," adding, "The South and the North slowly lowered the guns pointed at each other and promised that there would never again be a need to fight."

At the same time, President Lee expressed a grave awareness of the current state of inter-Korean relations. He commented, "Unfortunately, that wind did not last long," continuing, "Dialogue between the two Koreas has been cut off, the doors to cooperation have closed, and the nights of tension have grown long again." He also pointed out, "As the period of hostility and confrontation grows longer, our economy and security are paying an unnecessary price."

He particularly emphasized that more time and effort are needed to restore peace, given North Korea's advancement in nuclear capabilities and changes in the international situation. President Lee said, "Compared to eight years ago, the North's nuclear capability has advanced and the external environment is by no means favorable to us," adding, "It takes just a moment for a warm breeze to turn into a cold wind, but turning it back is several times harder and slower. This is a sobering realization for us."

Nonetheless, he evaluated that the significance of the September 19 Pyongyang Joint Declaration and the inter-Korean military agreement remains valid. President Lee defined the two agreements as "precious promises made jointly by the South and the North, carefully considering how to unravel the issues step by step for a Korean Peninsula without the need to fight."

As the direction for the government’s future policy toward North Korea, he placed greater emphasis on gradual tension reduction rather than a one-sided drive for speed. President Lee said, "We will use that milestone as a compass," and added, "The more tangled the threads, the more important it is not to rush but to untangle them one by one." He further emphasized, "First, we will look for and proceed with measures we ourselves can take. We will breathe new life into peace on the Korean Peninsula."

President Lee also reiterated that the starting point of the September 19 agreement was in reducing military tension and ending the adversarial relationship. He stated, "The promise made in Pyongyang eight years ago came from a determination to eliminate unnecessary risks of war and resolve hostile relations," and declared, "The desire of our people for peace has never faded. Now, we will rekindle that aspiration."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.