South Korea's Lee reiterates call for 'peaceful' coexistence, prosperity with North Korea

ANKARA

South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung on Monday reiterated a call for "peaceful" coexistence and prosperity with North Korea.

He made the reaffirmation during a summit with Vietnam's leader To Lam in Seoul, with the two sides pledging to expand the strategic partnership, increase trade volume to $150 billion by 2030, up from $86.7 billion in 2024, Yonhap News reported.

The summit marked Lee's first time hosting a foreign leader since taking office in early June and the first visit by Vietnam's Communist Party chief to South Korea in 11 years.

It also came days before the Korean Peninsula is set to mark Liberation Day on Friday.

Lee outlined his government's vision for a peaceful Korean Peninsula where the two Koreas coexist and prosper, and sought Hanoi's support and cooperation.

Lam, in return, announced support for Seoul's efforts to resume inter-Korean dialogue and pledged to actively contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The divided Koreas have also dismantled propaganda loudspeakers along the inter-Korean border in an indication of easing of tensions. The move was initiated by South Korea after Lee was elected in June and pledged to restore trust with Pyongyang.

Seoul has also delayed parts of its joint drills with US to later dates.

Strategic partnership

South Korea and Vietnam agreed Monday to expand their strategic partnership, focusing on the economy, security, technology, and culture.

The two countries signed at least 10 memoranda of understanding outlining cooperation in nuclear energy, renewable energy, technology, science, intellectual property rights, education, and people-to-people exchanges.

Expressing hope for deepening the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership established three years ago, Lee emphasized the close economic ties between the two nations.

"Vietnam is the Republic of Korea's very important neighboring nation in terms of trade and security," Lee said at the start of the talks.

He also sought Hanoi's support for Korean companies and nationals in Vietnam, which is South Korea's third-largest trading partner and home to 10,000 Korean companies.

*Writing by Aamir Latif