President Lee: "No Room for Reason or Pragmatism Amid Division... The Era of Hostility Must End"

President Lee Delivers Congratulatory Message at the 2025 Global Korea Forum (GKF)
"Consistent Commitment to Trust-Building Measures"
"Striving to Create Conditions for Dialogue and Cooperation"

President Lee Jaemyung stated, "We must put an end to the era of confrontation and hostility between North and South Korea. The government has taken measures to ease military tensions and restore trust between the two Koreas, and we will continue to maintain these efforts consistently."

Yonhap News Agency

On September 18, in a written congratulatory message sent to the '2025 Global Korea Forum (GKF)' held at the Four Seasons Hotel in Jongno, Seoul, President Lee said, "This year marks the 80th anniversary of Liberation, and despite the remarkable achievements over the past 80 years, we have yet to overcome the era of division and confrontation." The message was delivered by Lim Woongsun, the Second Deputy Director of the National Security Office.

President Lee continued, "Reason and pragmatism have no place in the face of division. Division limits the foundation for development and undermines national unity." He added, "As the saying goes, 'A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.' The restoration of trust and resumption of dialogue is the beginning, and trust is built through actions, not words." He further stated, "We will identify and prepare actionable items among the existing inter-Korean agreements," and "We will strive to create conditions conducive to dialogue and cooperation."

He also pledged to establish systems that will support peaceful coexistence, reflecting the changed inter-Korean relationship and international situation. President Lee said, "We will not be discouraged or stop simply because there is no immediate response from the other side. The more tangled the situation, the more patience is required to resolve it step by step. With a long-term perspective, we will end the era of confrontation and hostility, and usher in a new era on the Korean Peninsula of peaceful coexistence and joint prosperity for both Koreas."