South Korea’s New President Lee Pledges North Talks, Strengthens US-Japan Ties

South Korea's newly inaugurated President Lee Jae-myung pledged to pursue dialogue with North Korea while maintaining strong deterrence against nuclear and military provocations, emphasizing peace and cooperation on the Korean Peninsula. Lee also committed to bolstering trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, reinforcing the South Korea-U.S. alliance as the cornerstone of his foreign policy. Despite his liberal background and past criticism of tilting toward China and North Korea, Lee signaled continuity in diplomatic policies, including resolving wartime labor issues with Japan and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation in economy, security, and technology. He warned that rising protectionism and supply chain restructuring threaten South Korea's export-driven economy and vowed to navigate global economic and security shifts pragmatically to maximize national interests. Lee's approach aims to heal domestic divisions and foster peace, prosperity, and stability in a region facing significant geopolitical challenges. His election was positively received by markets amid ongoing tensions and new U.S. tariffs on South Korean exports.