NextFin news, NEW YORK — On Tuesday, September 23, 2025, South Korean President Lee Jae-myung delivered a keynote speech at the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, unveiling the E.N.D. Initiative to promote peace on the Korean Peninsula.
The E.N.D. Initiative, an acronym for Exchange, Normalization, and Denuclearization, seeks to end the decades-long Cold War-era confrontation between South and North Korea by fostering comprehensive dialogue and cooperation.
President Lee emphasized that the most certain peace is a state where there is no need to fight. He called for gradually expanding exchanges and cooperation between the two Koreas to pave the way for sustainable peace, stating, "Through comprehensive dialogue centered on exchange, normalization of relations, and denuclearization—'END'—we must end the era of hostility and confrontation on the Korean Peninsula and usher in a new era of peaceful coexistence and mutual growth."
Lee acknowledged the complexity of the North Korean nuclear issue, noting that denuclearization cannot be achieved in the short term. He proposed a pragmatic, step-by-step approach beginning with the suspension of nuclear and missile development, followed by reduction, and ultimately elimination.
He clarified that the South Korean government respects North Korea's current system, will not pursue unification by absorption, and has no intention of hostile acts, reaffirming the "three principles of North Korea policy" previously stated in his National Liberation Day speech.
President Lee also highlighted the importance of international cooperation, particularly between North Korea and the United States, to normalize relations and support peace efforts on the peninsula.
Following his speech, Lee met with U.N. Secretary-General António Guterres to seek support for the initiative. South Korea currently holds the rotating presidency of the U.N. Security Council and is scheduled to chair its first open debate as a Korean head of state on September 24, 2025.
The E.N.D. Initiative represents a shift toward a more pragmatic and rational approach to resolving the Korean Peninsula's longstanding tensions, emphasizing dialogue and mutual respect as foundational steps toward peace.
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