President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Wednesday to make diplomatic efforts to swiftly resume talks between North Korea and the United States, while creating conditions for inter-Korean dialogue. Speaking at a nationally televised New Year's press conference in Seoul, he emphasized a pragmatic approach to reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Lee also vowed to restore the 2018 Sept. 19 military agreement suspended amid recent escalations.
At a New Year's press conference held at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul on January 21, 2026, President Lee Jae Myung stated, "As a pacemaker, we will make diplomatic efforts to ensure that North Korea-U.S. dialogue will soon take place and create conditions for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue."
He added, "The sharp chill will not thaw all at once, but we will consistently pursue feasible measures to draw a response from the North and reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula."
Lee vowed to restore the Sept. 19 military agreement signed in 2018 between former President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which was fully suspended in 2024 amid heightened tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang. "We will restore the Sept. 19 military agreement to prevent accidental clashes between the South and the North and to build political and military trust," he said, noting that South Korea "will also continue to consider creative solutions through which peace can benefit both Koreas."
Emphasizing a pragmatic approach to North Korea's advancing nuclear capabilities, Lee pointed out, "Nuclear materials capable of producing 10 to 20 nuclear weapons a year continue to be produced (in North Korea) and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology is still advancing."
He reiterated his three-stage roadmap for denuclearization: halting additional nuclear material production, preventing transfers abroad, stopping ICBM development, followed by negotiations to halt, reduce, and ultimately denuclearize the program in the long term.
Lee reaffirmed his commitment to "a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula" grounded in the robust U.S. alliance, strong self-reliant defense, and pragmatic diplomacy focused on national interests. Despite his offers to resume stalled talks, Pyongyang has rebuffed peace overtures, with tensions elevated after accusing South Korea of drone incursions and demanding an apology.
Domestically, Lee pledged to advance prosecution reform by separating investigative and indictment powers. He expressed regret over the lack of a confirmation hearing for nominee Lee Hye-hoon for the new Ministry of Planning and Budget, amid controversies over her past. Lee also warned against religious-political collusion, stating, "Religious intervention in politics can ruin a country. It must be eradicated at this opportunity."
