President Lee Jae Myung drinks water during a New Year&#39;s press conference held at the Blue House State Guest House on Wednesday 2026.1.21 / News1

On Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung addressed the North Korean nuclear issue, stating that it needs to pursue denuclearization, which is ideal, but will North Korea realistically give up its nuclear weapons? Let's acknowledge the reality while not abandoning its goals.

During a New Year's press conference at the Blue House State Guest House, he elaborated that as long as he's leading the government, his aim is to find a practical approach that benefits South Korea, its citizens, the global community, and North Korea. He will continue to pursue this path.

President Lee reflected that its strategy so far has been to wait and endure. They've dreamed of ideals while turning a blind eye to reality. He then posed the question, What has been the outcome? The nuclear arsenal keeps expanding.

He outlined a phased approach: First, let's not abandon its ideals, but the most realistic step is to halt progress. Then, it can move on to disarmament talks. In the long run, it'll work towards denuclearization.

Regarding the recent North Korean drone incursion, he acknowledged, Inter-Korean relations have become incredibly challenging. Even now, the drone incident is causing significant concern.

President Lee explained that he believes dialogue and conciliatory measures are crucial for economic growth, but North Korea remains unresponsive. He added that the drone incident has given skeptics a reason to doubt my administration's approach. From its standpoint, this is a grave matter requiring thorough investigation and countermeasures.

He candidly stated that at this point, avoiding war is the primary concern, let alone achieving unification. He stressed that it must do everything in its power to create conditions for peaceful coexistence, and the U.S. plays a pivotal role in this process.

Touching on U.S. relations, he noted that while former President Donald Trump has an unconventional style, he believes this could potentially help address Korean Peninsula issues. He concluded that they're keeping channels open for U.S.-North Korea dialogue. Trump's approach might be effective in facilitating conversations with Kim Jong Un. Let's continue to explore this avenue.

On Wednesday, President Lee Jae Myung addressed the North Korean nuclear issue, stating th …

Is Denuclearization Possible? President Lee's Bold Vision for North Korea Relations in 2026