0
President Lee Jae-myung speaks during the first Ulchi Cabinet Meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on August 18. / Yonhap News

President Lee Jae-myung stated on August 19, regarding U.S. President Donald Trump's conciliatory gestures toward North Korea—such as ordering the scaling down of South Korea-U.S. joint drills and expressing a willingness to meet North Korean leader Kim Jong-un—"I fully sympathize with President Trump's determination and efforts to establish a peace regime on the Korean Peninsula, even by scaling down South Korea-U.S. combined exercises and field training maneuvers."

President Lee also said, "As I have stated on multiple occasions, I will do my utmost to serve as a pacemaker to facilitate President Trump's peacemaker role."

President Lee wrote on X (formerly Twitter) that day, "I pay tribute to (President Trump's) decisive leadership," while expressing these remarks.

President Lee noted, "I took close note of the social media message and photo recently posted by President Trump," adding, "I sense that President Trump's message reflects a major, deliberate decision to move beyond hostility and confrontation toward building peace on the Korean Peninsula."

He continued, "A peace regime where there is no need to fight is the most flawless security asset," emphasizing, "I look forward to this decision by President Trump leading to trust-building and the resumption of dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea, ultimately resulting in the establishment of a stable peace regime on the Korean Peninsula."

President Lee explained, "I recall my first meeting with President Trump at the White House about a year ago, when I positioned myself as a 'pacemaker' for peace on the Korean Peninsula—the world's only divided land—and requested that he serve as the 'peacemaker.' I also held earnest discussions with President Trump at the Group of Seven (G7) Summit and the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit on restoring peace on the Korean Peninsula and resolving the nuclear issue."

President Lee then underscored, "The Republic of Korea is building sufficient capabilities to take full responsibility for defending the Korean Peninsula on its own, including by sharply ramping up defense spending to achieve 3.5% of GDP in accordance with agreements between South Korea and the U.S.," adding, "I fully share President Trump's view that South Korea must take charge of its own security on the Korean Peninsula."

Regarding freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, President Lee stated, "The ROK government has made clear on multiple occasions its commitment to actively join the efforts of the international community, including the U.S., to restore freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz." He added, "To this end, our government will continue to communicate closely with the U.S. side, as we have done so far, on various practical contribution measures within the bounds permitted by ROK laws and core policies."

He concluded, "I look forward to reuniting before long with the respected President Trump in the U.S."

                                                                                                             Hong Sun-mi