President Lee: "If Needed for North Korea-U.S. Dialogue, South Korea-U.S. Exercises Open to Discussion"

President Lee Holds Press Conference with Foreign Media on December 3
"Continuous Environment Creation Is the Path to Resolving Korean Peninsula Issues"

Yonhap News Agency

On December 3, President Lee Jaemyung stated regarding the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, "If it is necessary to create conditions for dialogue between North Korea and the United States, or if it is needed as a strategic lever for the United States, we are fully open to discussing it." This is interpreted as indicating that the joint exercises could be scaled back to facilitate meetings between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong Un, among others.

President Lee made these remarks during a press conference with foreign correspondents at the Blue House State Guest House on the same day, saying, "Among the conditions necessary for North Korea-U.S. dialogue, we will do our utmost to provide the best possible cooperation." He added, "In my view, it is helpful for North Korea-U.S. relations to improve first," and explained, "Continuously playing the role of an environment creator is fundamentally the way for us to take the lead in resolving issues on the Korean Peninsula."

President Lee's remarks represent a somewhat more advanced stance compared to his comments during a press briefing on his presidential jet on November 24, while touring four African and Middle Eastern countries. At that time, when asked whether he would consider scaling back the joint military exercises, President Lee responded, "It is difficult to predict which direction we will take under the current circumstances." However, he added that, assuming a "firm peace regime between South and North Korea," "it would be preferable not to conduct them."

President Lee analyzed the current state of relations with North Korea as being "so closed that not even a needle could pass through." He said, "Not only has dialogue been completely severed, but even communication channels and emergency hotlines have all been cut off," adding, "All we can do is take unilateral conciliatory measures." He continued, "However, the United States has many options. For North Korea, regime preservation is the most important issue, and it appears that they see the United States as the party capable of guaranteeing this."

President Lee also reiterated his commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. He emphasized, "We are fully committed to non-proliferation," and stated, "A nuclear-free Korean Peninsula is a fundamental principle agreed upon by both South and North Korea, and we have no intention of deviating from it." Regarding the government's uranium enrichment, spent nuclear fuel reprocessing, and the introduction of nuclear-powered submarines, he drew a clear line, saying, "These are not subjects of non-proliferation controversy."