S. Korea's President Seeks Peace Dialogue with N. Korea

(MENAFN) South Korean President Lee Jae Myung issued a compelling call Thursday for sustained and deliberate efforts to dial back hostility toward the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, local media reported — signaling a marked shift in tone from his administration toward the long-isolated northern neighbor.

"The values we must pursue are peace and stability. We must break away from the past that was racing toward war and confrontation," Lee said during a weekly meeting with presidential secretaries, framing the moment as a historic opportunity to reset inter-Korean relations.

The president laid out a patient, step-by-step vision for achieving lasting calm on the peninsula, arguing that durable peace cannot be imposed overnight but must be carefully constructed through relentless engagement. If South Korea tirelessly communicates, engages in dialogue and cooperates to build trust and empathy bit by bit, the structural peace and stability will eventually arrive on the peninsula, Lee added.

The remarks reflect a broader strategic recalibration under Lee's leadership, as Seoul seeks to move beyond decades of cyclical tension and military brinkmanship that have defined inter-Korean ties. With diplomatic channels between the two nations largely frozen and regional security pressures mounting, Lee's call for empathy-driven engagement represents one of the most direct overtures toward Pyongyang in recent memory — and a deliberate departure from the confrontational posture of previous administrations.

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