Lee Says "My Heart Aches for Soldiers Injured in DMZ Incident... Will Continue Steps to Ease Inter-Korean Tensions"

President Lee Attends 78th Armed Forces Day Ceremony
"Urges North Korea to Join in Restoring Trust and Reviving Dialogue"

President Lee Jae-myung said on October 1, "I still feel pain in my heart when I think of the soldiers who were injured in an unexpected accident at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ)." He added, "I wish them a swift recovery and send my heartfelt condolences to their families."

President Lee made these remarks during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam, on this day. President Lee had also visited the Armed Forces Capital Hospital the previous day, on September 30, to comfort the injured soldiers and their families.

President Lee Jae-myung is saluting during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Gyeryongdae, Chungnam on October 1, 2026. Photo by Yonhap News Agency

President Lee went on to say, "The freedom and peace we enjoy today did not come by chance," expressing his gratitude to the independence fighters of the anti-Japanese resistance, the Liberation Army, fallen heroes and military founders, veterans and reservists, and also to the soldiers of the United States Forces Korea and member nations of the United Nations Command.

Meanwhile, President Lee pledged, "Our government will consistently take practical steps to reduce military tensions between the South and the North."

He stressed, "The South and the North must find 'a path to win together' for peace on the Korean Peninsula and build trust with one another." He added, "Trust is not created in a single statement. It is built little by little when words and actions are consistent."

President Lee stated, "Although the knots in inter-Korean relations are intricately tangled, we will patiently and steadily work to untie them going forward." He added, "We expect and urge the North to now join us in the path toward restoring trust and resuming the dialogue that has been cut off."

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