According to Yonhap News on August 20th, South Korean President Li Jae-myeong posted an article on the social platform X on the 19th, expressing respect for the will and efforts of US President Donald Trump to build a peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula by reducing the scale of joint military exercises between South Korea and the United States.
Lee Jae-ming said that a peace mechanism without the need for war is the most perfect security asset. He hopes that President Trump's decision will promote mutual trust between North Korea and the United States and restart negotiations, thereby facilitating the establishment of a stable peace mechanism on the Korean Peninsula. As he said when he met with Trump over a year ago, he will play the role of a promoter, supporting President Trump in becoming a 'peacemaker'.
On August 15th of this year, Lee Jae-myung proposed a “inclusive and stable blueprint for peaceful coexistence with North Korea” during the 81st anniversary celebration of the liberation day. He stated that he would begin the process of transforming the unstable truce regime on the Korean Peninsula into a peaceful regime.
Lee Jae-myeong said that during the celebration ceremony for the Liberation Day last year (2025), he expressed respect for the current North Korean system, did not pursue any form of integration with North Korea, and made it clear that he had no intention of engaging in any hostile actions. One year later, he proposed a ‘blueprint for action’.
Li Zaiming proposed three suggestions. First, he suggested that South Korea and North Korea should achieve a harmonious coexistence based on mutual respect, stop unnecessary conflicts, and gradually reduce hostility at the cognitive level. He hoped that both the North and South could sit down and discuss ways of peaceful coexistence and common development.
Second, it is recommended that South Korea and North Korea achieve stable peaceful coexistence. Mechanisms should be established to manage tensions and conflicts, and multiple safety measures should be put in place to prevent crises. He said that South Korea will take forward-looking and continuous peaceful measures and strive for a response from North Korea, working together to build a stable Korean Peninsula.
3. It is recommended that South Korea contribute to world peace and achieve responsible peaceful coexistence. He also said that the South Korean side will initiate a process to end wars and transform the unstable ceasefire regime on the Korean Peninsula into a peaceful one.
And Lee Jae-myung's statement on the 19th was made against the backdrop of US President Trump's recent "sudden" mention of North Korean issues.
On August 16, Trump posted a statement on the social platform “Real Social” saying that, given his “very good relationship” with North Korea’s supreme leader Kim Jong Un, he was “disappointed that the United States agreed to participate in joint military exercises with South Korea a long time ago”. He also mentioned that he had asked the U.S. Department of Defense to significantly reduce the scale of the U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises. Subsequently, on August 21, the U.S. and South Korean militaries ended the ongoing “Eagle Freedom Shield” joint military exercise ahead of schedule.
On the 17th, Trump again claimed in response to media questions at the White House that Kim Jong-un had responded to his request for dialogue, but did not disclose any specific details.
On the 19th, according to the latest reports from The Washington Post, Trump told the media that he expects to meet with North Korea’s top leader Kim Jong-un later this year.
However, according to a report by the Korean Central News Agency on the 19th, Kim Kook-hee, a minister of the Central Committee of the Korean Workers’ Party, said that she has 'nothing to say' about the news from Washington regarding recent communications between North Korean and US leaders. Regarding the sudden announcement by the US president to reduce the scale of joint military exercises between the US and South Korea, the North Korean side believes that it 'is not worth commenting on, and there is no interest in discussing it.'
Regarding the situation on the Korean Peninsula, another development worth noting is that on August 19th, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi arrived in Seoul, South Korea for a two-day visit.
On the afternoon of the 19th, Wang Yi held talks with South Korean Foreign Minister Yoon Kyeong-ryeom. They exchanged views on China-South Korea relations, the situation on the Korean Peninsula, and regional and international hot topics. In response to questions, Foreign Minister Wang Yi explained his views on the situation on the Korean Peninsula, elaborated on China's consistent principles and positions. He emphasized that as a responsible major power, China maintains consistency and stability in its foreign policy and is committed to playing a constructive role in ensuring peace and stability on the peninsula. He expressed satisfaction with the gradual progress towards peaceful coexistence between South Korea and North Korea, with the ultimate goal being long-term stability on the peninsula.
