South Korean President Lee Plans Phased Denuclearization and Inter-Korean Cooperation to End Hostilities

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung presented a comprehensive vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula during his keynote speech at the United Nations General Assembly, emphasizing a new initiative called "END," which stands for Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization. He proposed a phased, realistic approach to denuclearization, beginning with halting nuclear and missile advancements, followed by reduction and eventual dismantlement, while underscoring the need for mutual respect and trust between the two Koreas, without seeking unification by absorption or hostile actions. President Lee highlighted the importance of gradually expanding inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation as a pathway to sustainable peace, and called for international support and multilateral collaboration to address the challenges on the peninsula. His administration has already taken steps to reduce hostilities, such as suspending leaflet campaigns and loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at North Korea. National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac described Lee’s END initiative as an integrated and mutually reinforcing strategy, with no prescribed sequence, aligning with past inter-Korean agreements and the 2018 Singapore declaration between U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. Despite North Korea’s rejection of recent peace overtures, there remains cautious hope for resumed dialogue, especially with Trump expressing willingness to reengage.