Lee reaffirms commitment to 'pacemaker' role to promote N. Korea-US dialogue

President Lee Jae Myung reaffirmed in Nice, France, his commitment to serving as a pacemaker for North Korea-U.S. dialogue. He said renewed talks could help halt Pyongyang’s nuclear buildup and repeated his administration’s peaceful coexistence policy toward the North. Lee also said South Korea is trying to expand its role in the alliance by raising defense spending and strengthening military capabilities.

Lee made the remarks in a written interview with Le Monde published Sunday as he arrived in Nice for the first stop of his four-day trip to France.

His France trip includes a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

Lee said he does not believe the wall of distrust with North Korea can be dismantled overnight through a few measures.

He said South Korea is increasing defense spending and strengthening military capabilities to expand its role in the alliance.

Lee said the two countries are marking the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations.

Published Sep 7, 2026 10:26 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung, left, and his wife, first lady Kim Hea Kyung, right, are welcomed to Nice, France, after stepping off the presidential plane, Sept. 6. Yonhap

NICE, France — President Lee Jae Myung has reaffirmed his commitment to playing a "pacemaker" role in promoting the resumption of dialogue between North Korea and the United States, saying the move could help halt the advance of Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.

The president reiterated the commitment during a written interview with French media outlet Le Monde, published Sunday, as Lee arrived in Nice for the first stop of his four-day trip to France, which will include a summit with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris.

"I will serve as a pacemaker who will help revive North Korea-U.S. dialogue," Le Monde quoted Lee as saying, adding this could serve as a means of halting the buildup of Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities.

Lee said he does not believe "the wall of distrust" can be dismantled overnight through a few measures, reaffirming his administration's efforts to fulfill its "peaceful coexistence" policy toward North Korea, aimed at reducing inter-Korean tensions and building peace.

The South Korean president also referred to U.S. President Donald Trump's recent remarks on South Korea, noting that they do not represent an attack that could compromise the alliance's sustainability, but an intent to overhaul the alliance in line with new demands stemming from the changing times.

Lee highlighted that Seoul is exerting efforts to expand its role in the alliance by increasing its defense spending and strengthening its military capabilities.

On South Korea-France relations, the president noted their bilateral friendship is entering a new stage oriented toward the future, pledging efforts to further strengthen bilateral cooperation.

Lee's ongoing trip to France comes at the invitation of Macron following the French leader's visit to South Korea in April. The leaders' exchange of visits comes as the two countries mark the 140th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations.

李在明总统在法国尼斯重申了他致力于推动朝美对话的决心。他表示，重启对话有助于阻止平壤的核武库建设，并重申了韩国政府对朝和平共处政策。李在明还表示，韩国正通过增加国防开支和加强军事能力，努力扩大其在韩美同盟中的作用。

李在周日抵达尼斯时发表了上述言论，这是他为期四天的法国之行的第一站。当时他正在接受《世界报》的书面采访，该采访内容已发表。

他的法国之行包括在巴黎与法国总统埃马纽埃尔·马克龙举行峰会。

李表示，他不认为通过几项措施就能在一夜之间拆除与朝鲜之间的不信任之墙。

他表示，韩国正在增加国防开支，加强军事能力，以扩大其在联盟中的作用。

李表示，两国正在庆祝建交140周年。

发布于2026年9月7日上午10:26（韩国标准时间）

9月6日，韩国总统李在明（左）和夫人金喜京（右）乘坐总统专机抵达法国尼斯，受到热烈欢迎。（韩联社）

法国尼斯——韩国总统李在明重申了他致力于在推动朝鲜和美国恢复对话方面发挥“领跑者”作用的承诺，并表示此举有助于阻止平壤核能力的提升。

李总统在周日发表于法国媒体《世界报》的书面采访中重申了这一承诺。当时，李总统抵达尼斯，开启了他为期四天的法国之行的第一站，此行还将包括在巴黎与法国总统埃马纽埃尔·马克龙举行峰会。

据《世界报》报道，李表示：“我将扮演推动者的角色，帮助恢复朝美对话。”他还补充说，这可以作为阻止平壤核能力发展的手段。

李表示，他不认为“不信任之墙”可以通过几项措施在一夜之间拆除，并重申其政府致力于履行对朝“和平共处”政策，旨在减少朝韩紧张局势，建设和平。

韩国总统还提到了美国总统唐纳德·特朗普最近对韩国的言论，并指出这些言论并非意在攻击韩国，损害美韩同盟的可持续性，而是旨在根据时代变迁带来的新需求，对美韩同盟进行全面改革。

李强调，首尔正努力通过增加国防开支和加强军事能力来扩大其在联盟中的作用。

关于韩法关系，总统指出两国友谊正进入面向未来的新阶段，并承诺将努力进一步加强双边合作。

李明博此次法国之行是应法国总统马克龙的邀请，此前马克龙总统于今年4月访问了韩国。两国领导人互访正值两国庆祝建交140周年之际。