President Lee Jae-myung pledged on March 1 to respect North Korea's political system and refrain from hostile actions during a ceremony marking the 107th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement. He emphasized building peace on the Korean Peninsula and vowed to facilitate the resumption of dialogue between the two Koreas and between Pyongyang and Washington. Lee also promised a thorough investigation into recent drone incursions and measures to prevent recurrence.
At a ceremony held at COEX in Seoul to mark the 107th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement, President Lee Jae-myung stated, "As my administration has repeatedly made clear, we respect the North's system and will neither engage in any type of hostile acts nor pursue any form of unification by absorption." He stressed that confrontation serves neither side's interests on the Korean Peninsula and committed to continuing practical measures to reduce military tensions and restore mutual trust between the two Koreas.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un recently reaffirmed a hardline stance toward the South, stating via state media that Pyongyang would "permanently exclude" South Korea from the category of compatriots and treat the two as hostile states. However, he indicated openness to improving relations with the United States if it respects North Korea's status and withdraws its hostile policy. In response, President Lee said, "Since North Korea is formulating and implementing a new five-year plan, I hope that it will swiftly return to the negotiating table and join us in shaping a new future," adding that Seoul would play a "pacemaker" role in facilitating North Korea-U.S. dialogue by coordinating with Washington and neighboring countries.
Regarding drone incursions into North Korea on September 27, 2025, and January 4, 2026—both shot down by Pyongyang—Lee described the incidents as a "grave threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula" unrelated to his government's intentions. He pledged to "thoroughly ascertain the truth about this incident and implement institutional safeguards to ensure that it never recurs." North Korea has warned Seoul to pay the price for what it called repeated provocations infringing on its sovereignty, and South Korea's Unification Minister Chung Dong-young expressed regret in February.
Lee also vowed to advance ties with Japan based on the spirit of peace and shared prosperity from the independence movement, referencing his January visits to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi. He emphasized trilateral cooperation among Korea, China, and Japan to foster harmony and prosperity in Northeast Asia.
Domestically, the president announced expanded honors for unrecognized independence activists, designation of Hyochang Park as a national independence park, and nationwide projects for the 150th anniversary of leader Kim Gu's birth. Meanwhile, opposition People Power Party leaders criticized the ruling Democratic Party of Korea for pushing legislation they described as undermining the constitutional order.
