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| ▲ President Lee Jae Myung delivers a commemorative address during a ceremony marking the 107th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement at the COEX exhibition center in Seoul on March 1, 2026. (Yonhap) |
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| ▲ President Lee Jae Myung delivers a commemorative address during a ceremony marking the 107th anniversary of the March 1 Independence Movement at the COEX exhibition center in Seoul on March 1, 2026. (Yonhap) |
Lee-Independence Movement
Lee urges N. Korea to resume dialogue, join in shaping 'new future'
By Yi Wonju
SEOUL, March 1 (Yonhap) -- President Lee Jae Myung on Sunday urged North Korea to return to the negotiating table with the United States and join efforts to shape what he called a "new future," vowing to actively communicate with Washington and neighboring countries.
Lee made the remark in his first address marking the March 1 Independence Movement at the COEX exhibition center in southern Seoul as he marked the 107th anniversary of the nation's 1919 independence movement, a watershed event during Japan's 1910-45 brutal occupation of the Korean Peninsula.
"Since North Korea is formulating and implementing a new five-year plan, I hope that it will swiftly return to the negotiating table and join us in shaping a new future," he said.
"As a 'pacemaker,' we will communicate with the United States and neighboring countries to ensure that dialogue between North Korea and the United States resumes as soon as possible," he added.
Lee also emphasized that his administration respects the North Korean system and will not pursue any form of unification by absorption nor engage in any hostile acts.
North Korea dismissed dialogue with Seoul but appeared to leave the door open for talks with Washington at a key party congress last month, where it unveiled the country's five-year plans and goals for key sectors, including national defense and foreign affairs.
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