South Korean President Calls for U.S.-North Korea Dialogue Resumption Amid Pyongyang’s Russia, China Ties

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called for the resumption of dialogue between the United States and North Korea as well as between the two Koreas. Yonhap reported that Lee issued the call in a written message delivered June 25 at a peace forum in Washington hosted by the Korean American Public Action Committee. The message came as his administration seeks to restart diplomacy with Pyongyang.

"For a peaceful Korean Peninsula, the restoration of trust is needed. To this end, inter-Korean dialogue and talks between North Korea and the U.S. must reopen," Lee said in the message. Lee added that he hoped the Korean community in the United States would act as civilian diplomats to promote government-to-government dialogue for peace on the peninsula.

He stated that his administration will respect North Korea's political system, will not pursue hostile activities against it, and will not seek reunification through absorption. "A state in which there is no need for conflict -- in other words, the establishment of peace -- is the best security policy," he said.

Yonhap reported the message was sent amid questions over whether North Korea would accept Seoul's overtures given its deepening ties with Russia and China.

A photograph taken June 23 shows Lee speaking during a Cabinet meeting at the presidential office in Seoul.