President Lee Jae Myung on Oct. 22 gives an interview to CNN at Jayu (Freedom) Hall of the Office of the President in Seoul. (Office of the President)
By Jeon Misun
President Lee Jae Myung, on the occasion of Korea hosting this year's Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit, has expressed his full support and willingness to assist if North Korea and the U.S. hold bilateral talks on the sidelines of the summit in Gyeongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do Province.
In an interview with CNN aired on Oct. 23, he said this when asked about the possibility of a summit between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump on the sidelines of APEC, responding by saying, "The chances are low."
"I believe that President Trump wants to achieve world peace, and that is why I have made the recommendation for him to take on the role of a peacemaker," President Lee said.
On relations with China, he said, "We have different ideologies and also a different system of government... (but) we cannot shut out China," adding that the "vital" Seoul-Washington alliance made managing Korea-China relations "a bit delicate."
"When it comes to relationships between countries, you cannot cut it clean with a knife and say: 'This country is our friend, and this country is not.' It's just not that simple -- it's much more complicated and complex."
The interview was recorded on Oct. 22 at the Office of the President in Seoul and aired the next morning Korean Standard Time.
msjeon22@korea.kr