APEC concludes with a 33-minute press conference:"North Korea's hostile rhetoric has been significantly toned down."

"Strengthening substantive cooperation between South Korea and China is essential... We anticipate China's role in achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula."

Takaichi, a great politician... Korea and Japan will face their problems head-on, but join hands to move forward together."

(Gyeongju = Yonhap News) Special Reporting Team = President Lee Jae-myung stated on the 1st that in order to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula, dialogue is necessary along with deterrence against North Korea, and that he will continue to take measures to secure trust between the South and the North.

Regarding South Korea-China relations, he emphasized that"substantial cooperation needs to be strengthened, and the most important area is the economy," and predicted that South Korea-Japan diplomacy "will be able to advance to a much better relationship than it is now."

After attending the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit held in Gyeongju on this day, the president held a 33-minute press conference for domestic and foreign reporters at the local international media center, introducing a portion of his Northeast Asia diplomatic plan that included these contents.

First, regarding North Korea policy, he mentioned former President Kim Dae-jung's"Sunshine Policy," saying,"Peace and stability are only possible when there is deterrence, dialogue, compromise, persuasion, and hope for coexistence and prosperity."

He continued,"Considerable effort is needed to change (North Korea's) suspicious and confrontational mindset," and diagnosed,"Although North Korea is suspicious, angry, and hostile toward the South Korean government, the intensity of its expressions appears to have been significantly softened compared to the past."

The president promised,"How can things change suddenly? We are taking preemptive measures to the extent possible to make the North feel safe and able to trust the South even a little, and such efforts will continue in the future."

He also explained,"The Korean Peninsula is still under a state of armistice, and the party to the armistice agreement was the United States, not South Korea. Therefore, North Korea believes that the security of its regime must be guaranteed by the United States," adding,"That is why the role of the United States is most important."

The president said,"Recognizing this role of the United States and ensuring that President Trump effectively plays the role of peacemaker is the way to secure peace in the Republic of Korea," adding,"I will continue to diligently play the role of pacemaker."

Regarding South Korea-China relations, he said,"While there appear to be no particular problems on the surface, it is difficult to say that relations have fully recovered," and added,"Strengthening substantive cooperation is absolutely necessary. The most important area of cooperation will be the economy."

The president explained,"The United States appears to be competing, conflicting, and hostile with China, but behind the scenes, we are cooperating, trading, and supporting each other." He added,"The relationship between South Korea and China is similar; they are geographically close and deeply dependent and cooperative economically."

He emphasized,"In the future, even if there are small external obstacles, we will overcome them and move toward greater benefits and changes."

He also stated,"China's role is crucial in establishing peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," adding,"If the Korean Peninsula is stable, Northeast Asia will also be stable, and that will also serve China's interests. We anticipate a major role from China."

He also shared his thoughts on his first summit with new Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi and his outlook for future Korea-Japan relations.

The president said,"I felt good about Prime Minister Takaichi and all my worries disappeared," and,"After talking with him for quite some time, I found him to be a very good politician who thinks the same way as me."

He emphasized,"I think that while facing the problems that exist (between the two countries), we can move forward together, hand in hand, toward the future."

The president also asked,"When President Lee Jae-myung was elected, the Japanese media must have been worried, saying, 'He's so far-left,' but these days, isn't Japan not worried about me?"

He said,"I, too, must have different judgments when I am the leader of the opposition party and when I am the president representing the entire nation," and "Prime Minister Takaichi's thoughts and actions will and must be different when he is an individual politician and when he is in charge of managing the Japanese nation."

The president added,"Next, in the spirit of 'shuttle diplomacy,' I need to visit Japan, and if possible, I suggested that we go to Nara Prefecture (Prime Minister Takaichi's hometown). I look forward to the future of Korea-Japan relations."