Lee Calls for Dialogue and Respect for North Korea’s System in March 1 Address
President Lee Jae Myung used his March 1 address to pledge that his government will respect north korea’s political system, refrain from hostile acts and work to restart talks with Pyongyang — a stance he tied to recent cross‑border tensions and a string of drone incidents.
Lee’s remarks at the COEX ceremony
Speaking at a ceremony marking the 107th anniversary of the March First Independence Movement at COEX in Seoul on Sunday, Lee said his administration would not pursue unification "by absorption" and would prioritize action over rhetoric to ease inter‑Korean tensions. He presented the Order of Merit to Hwang In‑sung during the event and said Seoul would take concrete steps to restore mutual trust between the two Koreas.
North Korea’s statements and the drone incidents
Lee’s appeal came after a series of sharp exchanges. North Korean leader Kim Jong‑un recently reaffirmed a hardline posture, with KCNA saying Pyongyang would "permanently exclude" South Korea from the category of compatriots while also signaling that dialogue with Washington could be possible if the United States respects North Korea’s status and withdraws a hostile policy. Tensions were further raised by unmanned aerial vehicles sent toward areas near Gaeseong on Sept. 27, 2025, and Jan. 4, 2026, both of which North Korea shot down. Pyongyang warned on Jan. 10 that Seoul would "have to pay the price" for what it called repeated provocations, and Unification Minister Chung Dong‑young said on Feb. 10 that the drone incursion posed a serious threat to peace on the Korean Peninsula.
Japan shuttle diplomacy and next steps
Lee also vowed to continue Japan shuttle diplomacy and to pursue peace in Northeast Asia, saying Seoul will act as a "pacemaker" by coordinating with the United States and neighboring countries to help facilitate the early resumption of dialogue between Washington and Pyongyang. He pledged a thorough investigation into the drone case, saying authorities will "thoroughly ascertain the truth" about the incursion and implement institutional safeguards to prevent recurrence.
The immediate actions Lee outlined as next steps are: coordination with the United States and neighboring countries to restart talks and a full inquiry into last year’s unmanned aerial incursion. Those measures were presented as the administration’s path toward reducing military tensions and restoring inter‑Korean trust.
