Seoul, Jan 22 (NationPress) The approval rating of South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has seen a slight decline, now standing at 59 percent, according to a recent survey released on Thursday.

The National Barometre Survey, which took place from Monday to Wednesday, indicated a decrease of 2 percentage points in the positive evaluation of Lee's performance compared to a poll from two weeks prior, while the negative evaluation increased by 2 percentage points to 31 percent.

Support for the ruling Democratic Party rose by 1 percentage point to 40 percent, whereas backing for the main opposition People Power Party fell by 3 percentage points to 20 percent, as reported by Yonhap News Agency.

Regarding relations with China, half of the respondents, 50 percent, expressed that South Korea should strengthen its ties with Beijing, while 41 percent believed Seoul should maintain a distance.

On the subject of Japan, a significant 65 percent of participants favored enhancing bilateral relations, with 31 percent suggesting that South Korea should approach improvements with caution.

The survey, conducted by Embrain Public, Kstat Research, Korea Research, and Hankook Research, sampled 1,001 people aged 18 and above, with a margin of error of ±3.1 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level.

On Wednesday, President Lee emphasized his commitment to diplomatic efforts aimed at facilitating a swift resumption of bilateral talks between North Korea and the United States, while implementing measures to create favorable conditions for renewed inter-Korean dialogue.

“As a pacemaker, we will strive to ensure that North Korea-US dialogue occurs soon and foster conditions for the resumption of inter-Korean dialogue,” Lee declared during a nationally televised press conference for the new year.

“The severe chill will not disappear overnight, but we will persistently pursue practical measures to elicit a response from the North and alleviate tensions on the Korean Peninsula,” he stated.

Lee also expressed intentions to restore the September 19 military agreement established in 2018 by former President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which had been fully suspended in 2024 due to escalating tensions between Seoul and Pyongyang.

“We will work to reinstate the September 19 military agreement to avert accidental skirmishes between the North and South and to cultivate political and military trust,” he noted, adding that South Korea will continue to explore innovative solutions that can benefit both Koreas.

When questioned about his approach to improving relations with North Korea, Lee asserted that South Korea will make every effort to foster a “situation where peaceful coexistence is achievable.”

He indicated that a realistic approach is essential in dealing with North Korea, citing the North's progress in nuclear capabilities.

“Nuclear materials capable of yielding 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually continue to be produced in North Korea, and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology remains on the rise,” he remarked.

Lee reiterated his three-phase roadmap for the denuclearization of North Korea's nuclear program.

“It would be advantageous if no further nuclear material is generated, if such materials are not transferred abroad, and if ICBM technology ceases to develop,” he suggested. “We should uphold our ideals while pursuing realistic negotiations aimed at halting, reducing, and ultimately denuclearizing the program in the long run.”

Lee reaffirmed his dedication to achieving a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula based on a robust alliance with the United States, robust self-reliant defense capabilities, and pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests.

Although Lee has extended an offer to resume stalled discussions with the North, Pyongyang has dismissed his peace initiatives. Tensions continue to escalate following accusations from the North that South Korea dispatched drones into its airspace and demanded an apology from Seoul.