Lee says S.Korea would “fully welcome and actively support” possible U.S.-N. Korea talks
In CNN interview, President Lee calls Trump a “peacemaker,” says dialogue key to resolving issues
President Lee Jae-myung said on October 23 that South Korea would “fully welcome and actively support” a potential meeting between the United States and North Korea, should such a development occur during the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Summit.
In an interview with CNN at the presidential office in Yongsan, Seoul, President Lee remarked, “It is unlikely that a U.S.-North Korea summit will take place on the sidelines of APEC, but if it does happen, we will wholeheartedly welcome it and provide full support at the government level.”
Lee expressed confidence in former U.S. President Donald Trump’s intentions for peace, saying, “I believe President Trump truly desires world peace. That’s why I asked him to take on the role of a ‘peacemaker.’”
When asked about the possibility of Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un holding a meeting during APEC, Lee said, “The chances are not high,” but added, “Still, the door to dialogue for peace on the Korean Peninsula must always remain open.”
In response to a question about his message to Kim Jong-un, President Lee said, “I would like to tell him that sitting down and talking with the other side is the starting point for solving problems.”
Observers view Lee’s remarks as an indirect call for the resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang.