South Korea’s President Vows Mutually Beneficial US Trade Deal, Dialogue with North Korea
SEOUL – South Korean President Lee Jae-myung pledged Thursday to pursue a “mutually beneficial” trade agreement with the United States and to reopen dialogue with North Korea in a bid to promote peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula, according to local media reports.
Marking his first month in office, Lee told reporters that his administration is committed to achieving balanced results in ongoing trade talks with Washington. “We will seek mutually beneficial outcomes based on pragmatic diplomacy centered on national interests,” he said, as quoted by Yonhap News Agency.
His comments come amid negotiations with the U.S. to ease the 25% reciprocal tariffs imposed by President Donald Trump, with a deadline for agreement set for July 8.
Lee also emphasized that his government has taken initial steps to de-escalate tensions with the North by halting the use of propaganda loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border—a goodwill gesture that he hopes will spark renewed engagement with Pyongyang. “Just as North Korea responded to the government’s recent preemptive suspension of propaganda broadcasts, a virtuous cycle of peace is possible,” he said.
“We will reopen inter-Korean communication and pave the way for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula through dialogue and cooperation,” Lee added.
President Lee took office last month following his victory in a snap election that was held after former President Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached and removed from office. Yoon’s ouster came in the wake of his controversial declaration of martial law in December.
