Lee says 'ember of hope' for renewed North Korea dialogue endures as he pledges continued efforts to ease tensions

President Lee Jae Myung said Sunday he believes the "ember of hope" for reviving dialogue and cooperation with North Korea still exists, reaffirming his commitment to making the utmost efforts to establish peace with Pyongyang.

The president made the remarks in his speech at a special Mass at the Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls in Rome, celebrated by South Korea-born Cardinal Lazzaro You Heung-sik, with the theme of peace and solidarity.

Lee is visiting Italy as part of his broader European trip, his first since taking office in June last year. He is set to visit the Holy See to meet with Pope Leo XIV on Monday.

Lee referred to the inter-Korean joint statement adopted June 15, 2000, calling it a "historic turning point" that, he said, signaled the possibility of overcoming inter-Korean tensions and opening up dialogue and cooperation.

The president noted the first inter-Korean joint statement had led to reunions of families separated by the 1950-53 Korean War, as well as humanitarian cooperation and other exchanges, opening the door to new hopes for building peace on the Korean Peninsula.

"I firmly believe the ember of that hope is still alive," Lee said.

The president reiterated his administration's efforts to ease tensions, including the suspension of propaganda loudspeaker campaigns toward Pyongyang.

"Additionally, we have also made it clear that we will not seek unification by absorption or unilateral [ideological] competition," Lee said.

"[We] will continue efforts to prevent accidental conflicts between the South and the North and to restore military trust," he added. "[We] plan to do everything we can to overcome the ceasefire and build a peace system."

Yonhap