Lee vows 'pacemaker' role in North Korea-US talks, calls for constitutional reform

President Lee Jae Myung, on a state visit to France, said in a written interview with the daily Le Monde that South Korea would act as a "pacemaker" to help restart dialogue between North Korea and the United States. Lee also said constitutional reform was needed to prevent a recurrence of the political crisis triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's declaration of emergency martial law.

Le Monde published the interview Monday ahead of Lee's visit to France, which runs from Sunday through Wednesday.

In the interview, Lee underscored South Korea's role in reviving North Korea-US dialogue, saying "effective measures to curb North Korea's nuclear capabilities could also be discussed" through that process.

Lee said he understood President Donald Trump's position as reflecting "the demands of a changing era, departing from the traditional view of alliances," and added that South Korea was accordingly increasing its defense spending and steadily building up key military capabilities to enhance its role and share of responsibility within the alliance.

He said the South Korea-US alliance was evolving into a "future-oriented, comprehensive strategic alliance" through cooperation in shipbuilding and the strengthening of the global AI ecosystem, among other areas.

On relations with North Korea, Lee said he did not expect "the wall of distrust built over many years to come down quickly with just a few knocks," but affirmed his intention to steadily pursue dialogue and cooperation toward peaceful coexistence.

On French President Emmanuel Macron's proposal for a coalition of "independent nations" keeping their distance from major powers such as the United States and China, Lee said close cooperation among countries sharing common values — including democracy, human rights and the rule of law — was essential.

He said the kind of solidarity South Korea sought was "practical and open cooperation in which capable nations complement and develop the existing international order through sector-by-sector collaboration," adding that South Korea was simultaneously pursuing self-reliance in its own defense and working to deepen its existing alliances in line with the realities of the times.

Lee also said "constitutional revision is needed to strengthen presidential accountability and better distribute executive power."

He said he would ensure that "the democracy won through countless sacrifices is never threatened again," and mentioned tightening the conditions for declaring emergency martial law and enshrining the spirit of the May 18 pro-democracy movement in the constitutional preamble.

Lee said judicial reform to prevent the monopolization and abuse of power should go hand in hand with military reform aimed at preparing for modern and future forms of war without threatening the constitutional order.

Meanwhile, Democratic Party of Korea leader Kim Min-seok, speaking at the regular National Assembly session's floor leaders' address Monday, said the party would "pursue a realistic constitutional revision that respects the procedural spirit of the current constitution and laws while reflecting the changes of the times and the demands of the public" — a position in line with Lee's.

Kim said enshrining the May 18 pro-democracy movement and the Busan-Masan democratic uprising in the constitutional preamble was "the starting point of constitutional reform," and that restructuring the power structure should go "as far as the public wants." He urged the People Power Party to join the effort, saying, "The People Power Party will ultimately have to make a choice. I hope they will complete their historical reflection and walk the path of constitutional reform together."