President Lee Jae Myung vowed on November 1 at the APEC summit closing ceremony in Gyeongju to continue preemptive measures to ease military tensions and build trust with North Korea. He stressed that peace on the Korean Peninsula is essential for stability and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region, seeking support from APEC members. He views North Korea's hostile rhetoric as a natural part of change, keeping dialogue open.
President Lee Jae Myung stated at the 2025 APEC summit closing ceremony that "military confrontation, tension, and nuclear issues have constrained stability and cooperation not only on the Korean Peninsula but across the entire Asia-Pacific region." He added, "The Republic of Korea seeks to open a new chapter on the Korean Peninsula through peaceful coexistence and co-prosperity, guided by the principle of resolving issues through dialogue," pledging to pursue even more proactive preemptive measures after steps already taken to ease tensions and restore trust.
In a press conference, Lee assessed North Korea's hostile language as "an expression that naturally emerges in the process of change," noting, "I think the intensity of North Korea's rhetoric has significantly eased compared with the past." He said, "We are taking preemptive measures to reassure the North and help build even a small degree of trust in the South, and we will continue such efforts going forward."
Lee emphasized that peace forms the basic foundation for a sustainable future in the Asia-Pacific, urging APEC members to support Seoul's peace promotion. "Peace on the Korean Peninsula is an essential condition for the prosperity of the Asia-Pacific region," he said. "The path toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula can be realized with the support and cooperation of all APEC members."
Citing former President Kim Dae-jung's Sunshine Policy, he outlined deterrence, dialogue, negotiation, persuasion, and hope for coexistence as essential for peace. Lee noted the two Koreas remain technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice signed by the U.S., North Korea, and China. Thus, "North Korea believes it needs to negotiate with the U.S. and obtain guarantees for its regime's stability, and it is acting accordingly."
He acknowledged limits to inter-Korean dialogue alone, stressing Washington's critical role alongside China and Russia. Lee pledged to support U.S. President Donald Trump's "peacemaker" efforts as a "pace maker" for peninsula peace. Trump expressed willingness to resume talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during his recent South Korea visit, but Pyongyang has not responded.
At the closing, Lee handed over APEC chairmanship to Chinese President Xi Jinping, who will host next year's summit in Shenzhen.
