President Lee Jae Myung on Sept. 22 delivers his keynote speech at the High-Level Week at the United Nations General Assembly, held annually in New York. (Yonhap News)
By Jeong Euiseok
President Lee Jae Myung on Sept. 22 delivered his second keynote address since taking office at the High-Level Week of the United Nations (U.N.) General Assembly, held annually in New York.
President Lee introduced the K-Initiative, which seeks to address challenges facing humanity -- including artificial intelligence (AI), climate change and energy security -- based on Korea's experience and capabilities. He expressed his commitment to using that initiative to make practical contributions to global peace and shared prosperity.
The president also proposed that "constructive contributors," or countries with the capacity and willingness to provide global public goods, join forces to complement and strengthen U.N.-centered multilateralism. He stressed the need for reforming the U.N., which he says must become more results-oriented, efficient and innovative if it is to deliver tangible outcomes amid crises.
President Lee noted that the simultaneous admission of South and North Korea to the U.N. 35 years ago was an important milestone that laid the foundation for peaceful coexistence. He presented three visions for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula: inclusive peaceful coexistence, based on respect for each other's systems and the differences between them; stable peaceful coexistence, built on communication and restored trust; and responsible peaceful coexistence, contributing to peace beyond the Korean Peninsula and around the world.
President Lee also expressed his intention to develop the possibility of renewed dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea into talks aimed at ending the war on the Korean Peninsula and establishing a peace regime. He added that he expects the U.N. to play a responsible and constructive role in halting the advancement of North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities, reducing them over the medium term and moving toward a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula in the long term.
innocence@korea.kr
