South Korea revives inter-Korean pacts despite North's hostility
Lee Jae-myung 's attempt in engagement with the North by unilaterally reviving some inter-Korean agreements is a long-term reconciliation strategy even as Pyongyang remains hostile towards Seoul, according to analysts.
Lee ordered government ministries on Monday to prepare for a phased implementation of the suspended agreements, beginning with those that Seoul could act on independently.
His latest call for trust-building came as the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield military exercise began across
South Korea , bringing together 18,000 South Korean troops and thousands of American soldiers for 11 days of joint drills from Monday until August 28.
Long branded by Pyongyang as a rehearsal for invasion, the event has consistently spurred
North Korea to engage in brinkmanship, such as missile launches and artillery drills.
Speaking at a cabinet meeting, Lee said: 'It is better to win without fighting than to win by fighting. Even better than that is to create a peaceful state in which fighting is unnecessary – this is the most reliable security.'
Calling for 'the courage to steadily take steps to ease tensions while firmly maintaining an ironclad defence posture', he added: 'True security lies in safeguarding peace.'
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