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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung Reaffirms Hope for Peace on Korean Peninsula During Rome Speech
At the foot of Rome’s ancient Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls, President Lee Jae Myung stepped onto the pulpit and declared that the "ember of hope" for dialogue with Pyongyang still burns.
Lee’s address, delivered on Sunday, June 15, came at a moment when Seoul is preparing to mark the 26th anniversary of the June 15 North‑South Joint Declaration – the first formal agreement between the two Koreas signed in 2000. The speech was part of the president’s first European trip since taking office in June 2025, and he is slated to meet Pope Leo XIV the next day before heading to the Group of Seven summit in France.
The Roman visit is only one stop on a packed itinerary that includes meetings with Italian leaders, a Vatican audience, and a scheduled stop in Brussels for the European Council. According to the UPI report, Lee will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Italian president and prime minister before traveling to France.
In Rome, Lee underscored confidence‑building measures Seoul has pursued since assuming office. He cited the ban on activist groups from smuggling anti‑North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border and the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at Pyongyang. "We do not seek absorption or unilateral competition between the two systems," Lee said. "In order to establish a sustainable peace system, I intend to do everything I can," he added, framing his remarks as a continuation of the Sunshine Policy legacy that began with the 2000 inter‑Korean summit and led to family reunions and humanitarian cooperation.
North Korea, however, has shown little interest in Seoul’s overtures. In recent months, Pyongyang amended its constitution to remove references to reunification with the South. The regime continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite international sanctions. Last week, the European Union and South Korea issued a joint statement condemning North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia and expressing "grave concern" over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile activities. The United States and South Korea reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea at a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Seoul on Thursday.
In contrast, the North’s Foreign Ministry rejected the idea of denuclearization, describing it as an "irreversibly finalized" matter. The UPI article notes that the North’s stance is consistent with its recent constitutional changes and its continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. The regime’s nuclear program—highlighted by six underground tests between 2006 and 2017—remains a central point of contention. While the U.S. and its allies call for a complete denuclearization, North Korea maintains that its nuclear arsenal is a deterrent against foreign interference.
Lee’s Rome speech and his upcoming participation in the G7 summit signal Seoul’s intent to engage multilateral forums on security and denuclearization. The president’s visit to the Vatican and the scheduled audience with Pope Leo XIV may also reinforce moral and diplomatic support for peace initiatives. Meanwhile, North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and its constitutional amendments underscore the challenges that remain.
In the coming weeks, Seoul will continue to push for broader international pressure on Pyongyang while maintaining its own confidence‑building measures. The next steps—particularly the G7 summit in France—will test the effectiveness of Seoul’s diplomatic outreach and the resilience of its peace strategy.
Lee’s address, delivered on Sunday, June 15, came at a moment when Seoul is preparing to mark the 26th anniversary of the June 15 North‑South Joint Declaration – the first formal agreement between the two Koreas signed in 2000. The speech was part of the president’s first European trip since taking office in June 2025, and he is slated to meet Pope Leo XIV the next day before heading to the Group of Seven summit in France.
The Roman visit is only one stop on a packed itinerary that includes meetings with Italian leaders, a Vatican audience, and a scheduled stop in Brussels for the European Council. According to the UPI report, Lee will also hold a bilateral meeting with the Italian president and prime minister before traveling to France.
In Rome, Lee underscored confidence‑building measures Seoul has pursued since assuming office. He cited the ban on activist groups from smuggling anti‑North Korean propaganda leaflets across the border and the suspension of loudspeaker broadcasts aimed at Pyongyang. "We do not seek absorption or unilateral competition between the two systems," Lee said. "In order to establish a sustainable peace system, I intend to do everything I can," he added, framing his remarks as a continuation of the Sunshine Policy legacy that began with the 2000 inter‑Korean summit and led to family reunions and humanitarian cooperation.
North Korea, however, has shown little interest in Seoul’s overtures. In recent months, Pyongyang amended its constitution to remove references to reunification with the South. The regime continues to develop its nuclear and ballistic missile programs despite international sanctions. Last week, the European Union and South Korea issued a joint statement condemning North Korea’s military cooperation with Russia and expressing "grave concern" over Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile activities. The United States and South Korea reaffirmed their shared goal of denuclearizing North Korea at a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group in Seoul on Thursday.
In contrast, the North’s Foreign Ministry rejected the idea of denuclearization, describing it as an "irreversibly finalized" matter. The UPI article notes that the North’s stance is consistent with its recent constitutional changes and its continued pursuit of weapons of mass destruction. The regime’s nuclear program—highlighted by six underground tests between 2006 and 2017—remains a central point of contention. While the U.S. and its allies call for a complete denuclearization, North Korea maintains that its nuclear arsenal is a deterrent against foreign interference.
Lee’s Rome speech and his upcoming participation in the G7 summit signal Seoul’s intent to engage multilateral forums on security and denuclearization. The president’s visit to the Vatican and the scheduled audience with Pope Leo XIV may also reinforce moral and diplomatic support for peace initiatives. Meanwhile, North Korea’s continued development of nuclear weapons and its constitutional amendments underscore the challenges that remain.
In the coming weeks, Seoul will continue to push for broader international pressure on Pyongyang while maintaining its own confidence‑building measures. The next steps—particularly the G7 summit in France—will test the effectiveness of Seoul’s diplomatic outreach and the resilience of its peace strategy.
