Can South Korean President Lee Successfully Restore Dialogue with North Korea?

Seoul, June 12 (NationPress) South Korean President Lee Jae-myung pledged on Thursday to actively work towards reestablishing communication channels with North Korea. This commitment follows his nation's decision to cease loudspeaker broadcasts targeting the North, marking a significant initial step to alleviate tensions with Pyongyang.

During a speech commemorating the 25th anniversary of the historic 2000 inter-Korean summit, Lee expressed his intent to "halt the exhausting hostilities" and to rekindle inter-Korean dialogue and cooperation.

"We will swiftly reinstate a crisis management system to prevent unintended clashes and curb escalating tensions," Lee stated.

He added, "To achieve this, efforts will be made to promptly restore the suspended inter-Korean communication lines."

However, it is uncertain how North Korea will respond to Lee's overtures, given that Pyongyang has shown limited interest in engaging with either Seoul or Washington amidst its growing ties with Russia.

"I will strive tirelessly to foster peace, coexistence, and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula," Lee declared during a commemorative event, with his remarks delivered by Woo Sang-ho, the Presidential Secretary for Political Affairs.

Lee lauded the June 15 Declaration, signed by former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and North Korean leader Kim Jong-il during the 2000 summit, as a pivotal moment that established the foundation for peace. He reaffirmed his commitment to uphold the spirit of this landmark agreement, as reported by Yonhap.

"Let’s transform the risks on the Korean Peninsula into a premium for both the South and the North; that is our path ahead," he proclaimed.

Earlier, the South Korean military reported that North Korea seems to have stopped its loudspeaker broadcasts directed towards South Korea on Thursday, just a day after Seoul ceased its year-long anti-Pyongyang broadcasts along the border.

According to the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, "No areas were detected with North Korea's loudspeaker broadcasts on Thursday," emphasizing that they are closely monitoring activities in North Korea.

The last instance of the North’s loudspeaker broadcasts occurred in the western border region late Wednesday night, a military official noted anonymously.

On Wednesday, President Lee ordered the cessation of loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea to help ease tensions and rebuild trust, according to Yonhap.

The presidential office highlighted the necessity of alleviating the distress experienced by residents in border areas, who have been significantly impacted by the noise, including sirens and traditional drums.

Following Lee’s directive, military operations ceased loudspeaker broadcasts in the border regions as of 2 p.m. on Wednesday.

This suspension occurred a year after the military resumed the broadcasts for the first time in six years in June last year, under the previous government, in response to North Korea's repeated launches of trash-carrying balloons across the border.