Ijae-myung’s Bold Stance on North Korea: What Does It Mean for Inter-Korean Relations?
Daniel Kim Views
President Lee Jae-myung attends West Sea Defense Day commemoration(Daejeon=Yonhap) Han Sang-gyun — President Lee Jae-myung salutes the national flag at the West Sea Defense Day ceremony held at the National Daejeon Cemetery on March 27, 2026. [Blue House pool photojournalists] xyz@yna.co.kr(Daejeon=Yonhap) Han Sang-gyun — President Lee Jae-myung salutes the national flag at the West Sea Defense Day ceremony held at the National Daejeon Cemetery on March 27, 2026. [Blue House pool photojournalists] xyz@yna.co.kr
The Blue House said the president’s remark was intended to express regret over the state of inter-Korean relations. Some media outlets reported that, when families of the Cheonan victims asked him to accept an apology from North Korea, he replied, “Would North Korea apologize just because you tell them to?”
On March 28, a Blue House official said the president’s comment reflected sorrow about the harsh realities of inter-Korean relations.
The official emphasized that the government will honor the heroes’ sacrifices by maintaining steadfast security so their deaths are not in vain.
Earlier reports said that at the 11th West Sea Defense Day ceremony on March 27, President Lee responded to the Cheonan victims’ families’ call for an apology from North Korea by saying, “Do you think they’d apologize just because you tell them to?”
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Lee Da-hyun (ok@yna.co.kr)
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