South Korea's new president Lee Jae-Myung vowed Wednesday to restart dormant talks with North Korea and has established a trilateral partnership with the United States and Japan as he sets out key policy goals for his five-year term.
Lee, who rose from childhood poverty to South Korea's leading liberal politician vowed to fight inequality and corruption, began his term earlier Wednesday, hours after winning a steal election that triggered his missed martial arts late last year in April after he was removed from office by then-President Yoin Suk Yeol.
Lee said in his inaugural speech to the National Assembly that his administration will deal with North Korea's nuclear threat and its potential military aggression with a “strong deterrence” based on the South Korean-U.S. military alliance. But he said he would “open communication channels with North Korea and build peace on the Korean Peninsula through talks and cooperation.”
He said he would seek pragmatic diplomacy in neighboring countries and promote cooperation in the Triangle Seoul-Warceinton-Toko Island.
“Through pragmatic diplomacy based on national interests, we will turn the crisis caused by a major transformation of the global economic and security environment into an opportunity to maximize our national interests,” Li said.
Security and economic challenges to the future
It is not clear whether Lee's election will lead to any significant South Korean foreign policy, and immediately transfer. Lee, who has been previously accused by critics of leaning towards China and North Korea and away from the United States and Japan, has recently repeatedly stressed South Korea's alliance with the United States, which is the basis of its foreign policy and avoided any controversial remarks that questioned his views on the United States and Japan.
“We have to see now whether the pressure in the office will cause Lee Jae-Myung to manage from the center – at least in terms of national security issues and alliances with the United States.”
“It's hard to determine how he will deal with the United States, North Korea, Japan and China because he has changed his position so much,” said Duyeon Kim, senior analyst at the Washington-based New American Security Center. “We can expect that if his administration doesn't align with Washington's attitude towards China and Japan.”
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The most difficult external challenge waiting for Lee is the tariff policy of U.S. President Donald Trump and the expanding military partnership between North Korea and Russia. But experts earlier said that those who become presidents can’t do much to ensure that South Korea is favorable to major progress on these issues.
The United States, Japan and China react
The United States and Japan said they congratulated Lee on the election and expressed their commitment to establishing a three-way cooperation.
Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba said he wanted to “convene summit talks with Mr. Lee as soon as possible,” he said, hoping to further promote bilateral relations between public and commercial. The U.S. State Department said Seoul and Washington shared “Teclad's commitment” to the alliance.
According to the CCTV of the State Broadcasting Corporation, Chinese President Xi Jinping also sent a congratulatory message to Lee, saying Beijing is willing to work with Seoul to promote its partnership to benefit the people of these countries.
It is unclear how North Korea responds to Lee's speech, as it has had any negotiations with South Korea and the United States since 2019. In recent years, North Korea has provided weapons and troops to support Russia's war against Russia against Ukraine, and the United States, the United States and its partners suspect Russia may return to North Korea's nuclear weapons to help its nuclear weapons program.
Russia's top security official Sergei Shougu has arrived in Pyongyang to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, the latest sign of thriving exchanges in these countries, the Russian Tas News Agency said Wednesday.
Lee said he would support Trump and Kim Jong-un’s move to restart nuclear diplomacy as part of his efforts to interact with North Korea. North Korea has not yet publicly responded to Trump's outreach.
“Lee and Trump personally want to have a conversation with Kim Jong Un. But North Korea has no incentive to talk to Washington or Seoul,” said analyst Duyeon Kim. “Pyongyang has political and economic support from Beijing and Moscow and can spend a lot of time further refining its nuclear weapons.”
Later on Wednesday, Lee nominated former Unification Minister Lee Jong-Seok, his spy chief who favors more reconciliation with North Korea. Observers say the nomination may be related to Lee Jae-Myung's hope of reopening talks, as the NIS had previously played behind the scenes of links with North Korea.
Lee Jae-Myung also nominated his main political ally and senior MP Kim Min-Seok as prime minister, the second job of the government. Lee is expected to nominate other top cabinet members in the coming days.
South Korea still faces a political gap
After Lee called for unity to resolve the country's distinct political gap, he would “answer the solemn appeal of the people and let hope bloom deep and painful wounds” after the collapse of Yuanwu.
Lee remains committed to a thorough investigation into the situation where Yoon martial law is imposed and describes it as a “rebellion that seizes people's sovereignty with weapons.”
Li said revitalizing a slowing domestic economy will be his top priority and his administration will immediately set up an emergency task force to carry out “front battle” with the threat of recession. He also promised that government spending is more aggressive to help stimulate economic activity.
South Korea's central bank cut its key interest rates last week and drastically lowered its 2025 growth outlook to 0.8% as it responds to Trump's tariff hike, while recent political turmoil has grown.
Lee also reiterated his campaign vow to reduce inequality, saying: “The polarization driven by inequality is now hampering further growth.”
Lee's term begins immediately without the usual two-month transition period, after the National Election Commission formally confirms his election victory. Prior to his inauguration, Lee visited the National Cemetery in Seoul, paying tribute to the late South Korean leaders, patriots and war dead, who were buried there, and he called for military readiness to be ready.
–Associated Press writer Mari Yamaguchi contributed to the report at Simina Mistreanu in Tokyo and Taipei, Taiwan.
