President of the Republic of Korea (ROK) Lee Jae-myung on Monday instructed government agencies to begin preparations for the consistent implementation of existing inter-Korean agreements, his office said.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, the head of state stressed the need for step-by-step implementation of agreements with the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK), starting with those provisions that can be implemented immediately.
“True security is based on maintaining peace. We need the courage to gradually reduce tensions while maintaining a high level of defence capability,” Lee Jae-myung said.
According to him, even small steps can serve as a basis for restoring trust, paving the way for long-term peace and joint development of the two countries on the Korean Peninsula.
The president emphasised that the Republic of Korea intends to maintain “iron readiness” in defence matters, while taking measures to de-escalate tensions and strengthen dialogue.
The statement followed his speech last week marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of the Korean Peninsula from Japanese colonial rule. On that day, Lee Jae-myung promised to take steps to restore trust with Pyongyang and outlined a course for reducing tensions.
In particular, the president announced his intention to return to the phased restoration of the provisions of the military agreement of September 19, 2018, concluded at the inter-Korean summit. The document provides for measures to prevent accidental armed clashes and strengthen military trust between Seoul and Pyongyang.
Thus, the new South Korean leadership’s course involves a combination of a firm defence line with initiatives aimed at resuming dialogue and gradually improving relations between the two countries.
