Lee vows to seek measures to reduce military tensions with N. Korea

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday pledged at Armed Forces Day in Gyeryongdae to keep seeking practical ways to reduce military tensions with North Korea. He made the remarks after last week’s DMZ mine explosions wounded three South Korean soldiers. Lee also reaffirmed self-reliant defense, including indigenous nuclear-powered submarines, wartime OPCON transfer, and wider use of AI and manned-unmanned teaming systems.

The ceremony marked the 78th Armed Forces Day at the military headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province.

Lee said South Korea would acquire indigenous nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s.

He said South Korea will finalize the retaking of wartime operational control of its troops from the United States.

Lee vowed to expand the use of artificial intelligence and manned-unmanned teaming systems to address shrinking military recruits.

He also said South Korea will establish an integrated military academy for the Army, Navy and Air Force.

Published Oct 1, 2026 10:52 am KST

Updated Oct 1, 2026 11:56 am KST

President Lee Jae Myung delivers a speech at a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Thursday pledged to persistently seek practical ways to reduce military tensions with North Korea, even as the two Koreas are at odds over the recent blast of North Korean mines along the border.

The president made the remarks on North Korea at a ceremony marking the 78th Armed Forces Day at the military headquarters in Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, following last week's explosions of two North Korean mines in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) that left three South Korean soldiers wounded.

"My administration will consistently pursue practical measures to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas," Lee said.

"The knots in inter-Korean relations are extremely complex, but we will steadily, patiently strive to untie them, one by one," the president said.

He said peace and prosperity must be forged with "our own hands," and that "the surest form of security is one that renders conflict unnecessary, in other words, one that creates peace."

"For the sake of peace on the Korean Peninsula, the two Koreas must find a way to win together and build trust," the president said, adding building trust "begins to take root, little by little, when words are matched by actions."

He also invited North Korea to join Seoul on "the path of restoring trust and resuming dialogue."

Lee's message came a day after the South Korean military announced the DMZ blast caused by mines planted by North Korean mines constitutes a "blatant violation" of the armistice agreement that ended the 1950-53 Korean War and demanded an apology and responsible measures from Pyongyang.

South Korean Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul earlier said Seoul will take "corresponding measures" if North Korea is confirmed to be behind the mine blast.

Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, however, denied the country's responsibility for the blast and went on to accuse Seoul of fabricating the findings.

President Lee Jae Myung listens to an explanation from Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony at Gyeryongdae, South Chungcheong Province, Thursday. Yonhap

The South Korean president said his heart "remains heavy" for the soldiers wounded in the "unfortunate accident" in the DMZ, wishing them "a swift recovery."

Lee, meanwhile, reaffirmed his commitment to strengthening self-reliant national defense, saying, "self-reliance in national defense is sovereignty itself."

As part of the commitment, South Korea will acquire indigenous nuclear-powered submarines by the mid-2030s, while finalizing the retaking of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops from the United States, he noted.

As a way to address the growing challenge of shrinking military recruits, the president also vowed to expand the use of artificial intelligence (AI) and manned-unmanned teaming systems, while establishing an integrated military academy including the Army, the Navy and the Air Force.

韩国总统李在明周四在鸡龙台举行的韩国军队日活动上承诺，将继续寻求切实可行的途径来缓和与朝鲜的军事紧张局势。此前，上周非军事区地雷爆炸事件导致三名韩国士兵受伤。李在明还重申了韩国国防自主建设的决心，包括自主研发核动力潜艇、战时作战指挥权移交以及更广泛地应用人工智能和有人/无人协同作战系统。

此次仪式在忠清南道鸡龙台军事总部举行，标志着第78个武装部队日。

李表示，韩国将在2030年代中期之前获得自主研发的核动力潜艇。

他表示，韩国将最终从美国手中夺回其军队的战时作战指挥权。

李将军誓言要扩大人工智能和有人/无人协同作战系统的使用，以解决新兵人数减少的问题。

他还表示，韩国将建立一所陆军、海军和空军的综合军事学院。

发布于2026年10月1日上午10:52（韩国标准时间）

更新于2026年10月1日上午11:56（韩国标准时间）

周四，韩国总统李在明在忠清南道鸡龙台市举行的纪念建军节第78周年仪式上发表讲话。（韩联社）

尽管朝韩两国最近因朝鲜在边境地区引爆地雷而关系紧张，但韩国总统李在明周四承诺将继续寻求切实可行的方法来缓解与朝鲜的军事紧张局势。

上周，朝鲜在非军事区埋设了两枚地雷，造成三名韩国士兵受伤。在忠清南道鸡龙台军事总部举行的纪念韩国建军节第78个仪式上，总统就朝鲜问题发表了讲话。

李明博表示：“我的政府将一贯采取切实措施，以缓解朝韩之间的军事紧张局势。”

“朝韩关系中的种种难题极其复杂，但我们将稳步、耐心地努力，逐一解开它们，”总统说。

他说，和平与繁荣必须“靠我们自己的双手”缔造，并且“最可靠的安全形式是使冲突变得不必要的，换句话说，就是创造和平”。

“为了朝鲜半岛的和平，朝韩必须找到共同获胜、建立互信的途径，”总统说，并补充道，“建立互信要一步步扎根，就要言行一致。”

他还邀请朝鲜与首尔一起走上“恢复信任和重启对话的道路”。

李的声明是在韩国军方宣布朝鲜埋设地雷导致非军事区爆炸事件“公然违反”结束1950-53年朝鲜战争的停战协定，并要求平壤道歉和采取负责任措施的第二天发布的。

韩国国防部长姜信哲早前表示，如果证实朝鲜是地雷爆炸事件的幕后黑手，首尔将采取“相应措施”。

然而，朝鲜领导人金正恩的妹妹金与正否认朝鲜对爆炸事件负有责任，并指责首尔捏造调查结果。

周四，在忠清南道鸡龙台举行的第78届韩国人民军建军节仪式上，韩国总统李在明听取了国防部长姜新哲的汇报。（韩联社）

韩国总统表示，他对在非军事区“不幸事故”中受伤的士兵“仍然感到悲痛”，并祝愿他们“早日康复”。

与此同时，李光耀重申了他加强国防自主的承诺，他说：“国防自主就是主权本身。”

他指出，作为承诺的一部分，韩国将在 2030 年代中期之前获得国产核动力潜艇，同时完成从美国手中重新夺回韩国军队的战时作战控制权 (OPCON)。

为了应对兵员数量不断减少的日益严峻的挑战，总统还承诺扩大人工智能 (AI) 和有人/无人协同作战系统的使用，同时建立一所包括陆军、海军和空军的综合军事学院。