President Lee vows continued pursuit of Korean Peninsula peace on summit anniversary

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung marked the 26th anniversary of the June 15th Inter-Korean Summit by vowing to persistently pursue peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula. Speaking through a message read by presidential secretary Kang Hoon-sik during a commemorative ceremony, Lee stated that the summit and its joint declaration were the starting point for peaceful coexistence.

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We will not stop our efforts for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

He described the agreement as a valuable promise to foster inter-Korean relations and achieve peaceful unification through exchange and cooperation, based on mutual understanding and respect. Despite the promise not being fully realized, Lee asserted that the path cannot be abandoned, as peaceful coexistence is the sole way for both Koreas to achieve mutual prosperity.

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The June 15th Inter-Korean Summit and the joint declaration were the starting point for peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

While acknowledging that inter-Korean dialogue remains challenging despite the government's efforts to resume engagement, President Lee expressed confidence that difficulties can be overcome with collective wisdom. He stressed that peace on the Korean Peninsula is a shared interest for the Koreas, Northeast Asia, and the global community. Lee pledged to do his utmost to reopen dialogue channels, drawing parallels to the spirit of 26 years ago, and to transform the evolving international landscape into new opportunities for shared prosperity.

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Although that promise has not been fully fulfilled, we cannot give up on that path, because peaceful coexistence is the only way for both North and South to achieve mutual prosperity.