Lee Nak-yeon "Strengthen US Alliance, Maintain Strategic Cooperative Partnership with China"

New Diplomacy Based on the ROK-US Alliance, Proposal for a New Peace Initiative on the Korean Peninsula
"To Prioritize National Interests and Conduct Confident Diplomacy, We Must Strengthen Our Power Through Three Major Innovation Growths"

[Asia Economy Reporter Oh Ju-yeon] Ahead of the Korea-US summit scheduled for the 21st, Lee Nak-yeon, former leader of the Democratic Party and a presidential candidate, revealed a diplomatic and security vision centered on a new diplomacy based on the "Korea-US alliance" and a "New Peace Initiative for the Korean Peninsula."

On the 17th, Lee attended an academic conference co-hosted with the Soongsil Peace and Unification Institute on the theme of "Prospects for Northeast Asia in the Biden Era and Korea's Role," stating, "We must strengthen the Korea-US alliance and maintain a strategic cooperative partnership with China," defining this diplomatic strategy as "new diplomacy based on the Korea-US alliance."

He said, "President Moon Jae-in's visit to the US will be a very important opportunity for the development of Korea-US relations."

Lee elaborated, "New diplomacy based on the Korea-US alliance refers to confident diplomacy that prioritizes national interests, and to achieve this, we must build strength through innovative growth in three major sectors."

The three major sectors he identified are: ▲ becoming a top-four nation in vaccines and pharmaceuticals by accelerating vaccine development ▲ leading digital innovation through technology development responding to the Fourth Industrial Revolution, including AI, big data, semiconductors, and bio ▲ and becoming a cultural powerhouse fitting for the 21st-century content era.

Along with this, Lee emphasized, "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is an unavoidable top priority for us, and it is time for a 'New Peace Initiative for the Korean Peninsula' that continues the Sunshine Policy of the Kim Dae-jung administration, the Peace and Prosperity Policy of the Roh Moo-hyun administration, and the Peace Process of the Moon Jae-in administration."

He stated, "'The New Peace Initiative for the Korean Peninsula' is a plan to revitalize inter-Korean exchanges for denuclearization of the peninsula and to establish a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula," and argued, "The Biden administration's denuclearization strategy must change."

As a solution, Lee proposed a two-step approach. First, to reach an interim agreement with North Korea to freeze nuclear activities and begin rollback (dismantlement), dispatch inspection teams, and gradually ease economic sanctions. Then, after some time, attempt to conclude a comprehensive nuclear agreement including complete denuclearization and a peace treaty.

However, he noted, "It is not easy to apply the 'New Peace Initiative for the Korean Peninsula' in the current situation where denuclearization negotiations and inter-Korean relations are frozen," adding, "Since the June 15th inter-Korean Joint Declaration of the Kim Dae-jung administration and the October 4th inter-Korean Joint Declaration of the Roh Moo-hyun administration were achievements made in the latter half of their terms, the Moon Jae-in administration should create a path for inter-Korean dialogue again through a second Panmunjom Declaration."

Lee also said, "The US must express active willingness to engage in dialogue to alleviate North Korea's security concerns. A representative measure is to promptly appoint the US Special Representative for North Korea, a position vacant since Stephen Biegun," and criticized, "The US claims that there must be work for there to be a person, but I believe that there must be a person for work to be done."

Regarding Korea-Japan relations, which he cited as the most important diplomatic issue for the next government to resolve, Lee proposed, "The two countries should create a so-called 'Wise Persons' Meeting' with full authority to resolve pressing issues such as forced labor and comfort women."

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