South Korean President Lee Pushes to Revive NK‑U.S. Talks and 2018 Military Pact

Updated 2026-01-21 04:04:30+00:00 (47 articles)

Lee Positions Himself as Diplomatic Pacemaker At a nationally televised New Year press conference on Jan. 21, 2026, President Lee Jae Myung declared he will act as a “pacemaker” to drive diplomacy that restarts North Korea‑U.S. talks and creates conditions for inter‑Korean dialogue, stressing a proactive but realistic approach [1][2][3]. He framed the effort as essential to easing peninsula tensions and signaled that feasible measures will be pursued to elicit a North Korean response [1][2].

Restoration of 2018 Sept. 19 Military Agreement Targeted Lee announced Seoul will revive the Sept. 19, 2018 inter‑Korean military pact that was fully suspended in 2024, aiming to prevent accidental clashes and rebuild political‑military trust [1][2][3][4]. The restoration is presented as a concrete step toward creating a stable environment for broader dialogue [1][2]. He described the move as part of a gradual, not immediate, thaw of the peninsula’s chill [1].

North Korea’s Nuclear and ICBM Capabilities Prompt Urgency Lee warned that North Korea continues to produce nuclear material sufficient for 10‑20 weapons annually and is advancing intercontinental ballistic missile technology [1][2]. He cited these developments as a primary reason to resume high‑level talks and to press for concrete denuclearization actions [1][2].

Three‑Stage Denuclearization Roadmap Outlined The president reiterated a phased roadmap: halt new nuclear material production, stop transfers abroad, and cease ICBM development, positioning these steps as realistic milestones toward a nuclear‑free Korean Peninsula [1][2][3]. He linked the goal to a robust U.S.–South Korea alliance and stronger self‑reliant defense capabilities [1][2].

Drone Incident Highlights Tense Backdrop The articles note that North Korea has accused Seoul of drone incursions and demanded an apology, underscoring the fragile environment in which Lee seeks dialogue [2][3]. Pyongyang has rebuffed recent peace overtures, keeping tensions high despite diplomatic overtures [3].