Dramatic Korea-U.S. Summit in New York: Willingness for Dialogue with North Korea Reaffirmed

Welcomed Significant Progress in U.S. Investment Talks
Reaffirmed Commitment to Shipbuilding and OPCON Transfer Cooperation
Agreed to Maintain Close Communication for Peace on the Korean Peninsula

President Lee's Keynote Speech at the UN General Assembly
Emphasized Overcoming Disruptions in Hormuz Energy Supply Chain
Proposed the 'Partnership of Constructive Contributors'
Unveiled Three Major Policy Blueprints on North Korea

President Lee Jae-myung held a separate summit meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump in New York and shared the importance of willingness to engage in dialogue for establishing sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula.

President Lee Jae-myung is delivering a keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly Hall in New York, USA, on the 22nd (local time). September 23, 2026 Yonhap News.

Wi Sung-lak, Chief of the National Security Office, stated at a press briefing held at the press center in New York on the 22nd (local time), "A separate summit meeting was held with President Trump, and President Trump and his wife hosted a reception, which both leaders attended and interacted at." The two leaders reportedly met for a 30-minute summit starting at 7:20 p.m. that day.

Chief Wi said, "We welcomed the significant progress made in the discussions on strategic investment projects," and added, "The leaders also reaffirmed their shared commitment to further advance Korea-U.S. cooperation in areas such as shipbuilding collaboration and the transfer of wartime operational control, and agreed to conduct follow-up consultations." He further stated, "President Trump reconfirmed his willingness to engage in dialogue with North Korea," and explained, "The two leaders agreed to maintain close communication to ensure the establishment of sustainable peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Earlier that day, President Lee delivered a keynote speech at the 81st United Nations General Assembly held at the UN Headquarters in New York. In his address, he emphasized international cooperation to overcome the energy supply chain disruptions caused by the blockades of the Hormuz Strait and the Red Sea, and proposed the 'Partnership of Constructive Contributors.' President Lee also presented to the international community the three main initiatives for a 'Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula,' which he previously outlined in his Liberation Day address on August 15: 'Inclusive, Stable, and Responsible Peaceful Coexistence.'

President Lee stated, "The repeated maritime blockades in the Hormuz and Red Sea have demonstrated the profound impact on people's daily lives worldwide when key energy and logistics routes are weaponized." He continued, "Countries equipped with the capacity and will to provide global public goods must expand their space for cooperation. I propose to call this the 'Partnership of Constructive Contributors.'"

President Lee emphasized, "Freedom and safety of navigation in international straits is a right guaranteed by international law and serves as the foundation of the global economy. Attacks on commercial vessels and actions that threaten the lives and safety of seafarers can never be justified under any circumstances."

President Lee Jae-myung delivers the keynote speech at the UN General Assembly Hall in New York, USA, on the 22nd (local time). 2026.9.23 Yonhap News Agency

Regarding the proposed 'Partnership of Constructive Contributors,' President Lee clarified, "This is not a call to create a new organization or an exclusive group. Rather, it is about expanding our scope in a flexible and open manner while respecting the international order and the role of the United Nations." President Lee also presented other visions within the 'K Initiative,' including building a 'Global AI-Based Society' and enabling a 'Green Great Transformation.'

In addition, President Lee introduced three major policy blueprints on North Korea under the theme of 'Inclusive, Stable, and Peace-Contributing Peaceful Coexistence.' In this speech, he reaffirmed on the United Nations stage the peaceful coexistence framework proposed in his August 15 Liberation Day address and, instead of the unrealistic goal of 'complete denuclearization,' he emphasized a transition to a peace regime along with a phased approach. Unlike in the previous year, the term 'denuclearization' was omitted, instead adopting the concept of a 'Nuclear-Free Korean Peninsula,' and proposed resuming dialogue among the parties, including South Korea, North Korea, the United States, and China.

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