South Korea Vows To End "Unnecessary Military Tensions" With North Korea

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Tuesday to break the "vicious cycle of unnecessary military tensions" with North Korea, aiming toward peaceful coexistence and mutual economic growth.

South Korea's Lee Jae Myung speaks during General Debate of the UNGA in New York, Tuesday.

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In his inaugural address to the United Nations General Assembly, Lee outlined his strategy for a "phased solution" to North Korea's nuclear program, acknowledging the "cool-headed perception that denuclearization cannot be achieved in the short term."

Just days earlier on Sunday, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un dismissed any step-by-step approach, claiming that recent dialogue proposals from Washington and Seoul lacked sincerity as their fundamental objective of weakening Pyongyang remained unchanged.

Kim indicated he would not reject discussions with the United States if Washington abandoned its insistence on nuclear disarmament, but firmly stated he would never surrender his nuclear arsenal to end international sanctions led by the U.S.

Lee affirmed that Seoul would "consistently seek a path to reduce military tensions and restore inter-Korean trust," highlighting recent confidence-building measures such as halting propaganda leaflet distribution and loudspeaker broadcasts directed at North Korea.

"By gradually expanding inter-Korean exchanges in cooperation, we will pave the way for sustainable peace," the South Korean president stated.

Despite these overtures, the North Korean leader declared on Sunday that he would refuse dialogue with Seoul. Nevertheless, Kim expressed "fond memories" of former U.S. President Donald Trump, with whom he held multiple summits during Trump's administration, though these engagements ultimately collapsed over American denuclearization demands.

Trump had stated last month his desire to meet Kim this year, but during his extensive 55-minute address to the U.N. on Tuesday, the American leader made no reference to North Korea.