Lee Positions Himself as Pacemaker for Renewed Dialogue At a nationally televised New Year press conference on Jan. 21, 2026, President Lee Jae Myung declared he will act as a “pacemaker” to push diplomacy that restarts North Korea‑U.S. talks and creates conditions for inter‑Korean dialogue, emphasizing feasible steps to elicit a North Korean response and reduce peninsula tensions [1][2][3].

Restoration of the 2018 Sept‑19 Military Accord Prioritized Lee announced Seoul will restore the Sept. 19, 2018 military agreement suspended in 2024, a confidence‑building measure intended to prevent accidental clashes and rebuild political‑military trust between the two Koreas [1][2][3].

North Korea’s Nuclear Capacity and ICBM Progress Drive Diplomacy Lee warned that North Korea continues to produce nuclear material sufficient for 10‑20 weapons annually and advances intercontinental ballistic missile technology, prompting a three‑stage denuclearization roadmap that calls for halting production, blocking material transfers abroad, and ending ICBM development [1][2].

Gradual Thaw Expected Amid Ongoing Drone Dispute Lee cautioned the peninsula’s chill will ease gradually, not instantly, noting Pyongyang’s rebuff of peace overtures and its accusation that Seoul sent drones into its territory, demanding an apology, which underscores the fragile environment surrounding the diplomatic push [1][2][3].