KOREA

Writer. Kim Da Un
Photos courtesy of. Office of the President

President Lee Jae Myung participated in the 80th United Nations General Assembly held in New York from Sept. 23 to 24, where he presented Korea’s peace initiative and future vision on the international stage.

Prior to the official UN General Assembly schedule, President Lee met with Larry Fink, chairman of BlackRock, the world’s largest asset management company, and signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation in AI and renewable energy infrastructure. He also broadened Korea’s diplomatic base by holding meetings with U.S. lawmakers and conducting a meeting with Korean compatriots in New York.

In his keynote speech at the UN General Assembly on Sept. 23, President Lee proposed the “E.N.D. Initiative” to end the Cold War on the Korean Peninsula. This initiative envisions a phased approach through exchanges, normalization of relations and denuclearization. He stated that the history of inter-Korean relations has proven that exchanges and cooperation are indeed the shortest path to peace and declared his intention to achieve a sustainable peace settlement through expanded inter-Korean exchanges and cooperation.

President Lee also presented a phased approach of “stop–reduction–dismantlement” as a solution for North Korea’s denuclearization. He emphasized that the Republic of Korea government respects the North’s current system and does not pursue unification by absorption, clearly stating that it has no hostile intent.

In his keynote speech, President Lee also addressed humanity’s common challenges beyond inter-Korean issues. He discussed climate action issues such as the responsible use of artificial intelligence (AI) and national greenhouse gas reduction targets, delivering the message that AI should become a tool for coexistence, not a threat to humanity. He also revealed plans to share his AI future vision at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Meetings to be held in Gyeongju at the end of October.

On Sept. 24, President Lee became the first Korean leader to preside over a UN Security Council open debate. The debate was conducted on the theme of “AI and International Peace and Security.”

President Lee stated that if AI is utilized well, it can solve difficult problems like low growth and high inflation to open the path to prosperity and resolve various issues involving food and education. However, if countries are dragged along without preparing for change, extreme technological gaps will deepen global inequality and imbalance. He added that only through cooperation among governments, academia, industry and civil society can innovation toward “AI for all” and “human-centered inclusive AI” be achieved, emphasizing the heavy responsibility and role of the Security Council in this process.

President Lee affirmed that Korea would work actively to ensure AI becomes a tool for humanity’s sustainable future, ushering in an era where all can benefit from AI’s potential.