South Korean President Lee Jae-myung used his address to the United Nations General Assembly on Tuesday to cast his nation’s modern history as evidence of the global body’s success and to call for renewed multilateral cooperation to confront a host of global challenges—from armed conflict to artificial intelligence. Lee also used the occasion to reaffirm his administration’s controversial stance of détente toward North Korea and to defend democratic gains at home following the removal of his predecessor.

Lee referred to South Korea’s 80-year history as inseparable from the history of the United Nations, asserting that the Republic of Korea had overcome authoritarianism, war, and economic hardship through democratic resilience and international partnership. Alluding to the attempted “soft coup” in December 2024 by former President Yoon Suk-yeol, Lee praised what he called a “revolution of light” that restored democratic order after Yoon was impeached and removed from office.

Lee emphasized that global crises—including “extreme hunger,” armed conflicts in Ukraine and the Middle East, and climate change—demanded collaborative solutions. He called on nations to use the United Nations as a forum for “putting their heads together” to create a future of “peace and prosperity.”

The South Korean leader warned of emerging threats, including the unchecked spread of artificial intelligence. He called A.I. a double-edged sword that could either deepen inequality or power democratic innovation, depending on how it is regulated. “If we passively let ourselves be dragged along by the changes of the A.I. era,” Lee said, “we will meet a dystopia… [But] if we proactively respond, we can use the productivity of A.I. as a driving force.”

Lee also addressed inter-Korean relations, reaffirming his administration’s intent to pursue peace and mutual respect with the North, despite continued hostility from Pyongyang. North Korean dictator Kim Jong-un has publicly rejected any talks with Lee’s government and reaffirmed his commitment to expanding the North’s nuclear arsenal.

In a notable shift from previous South Korean administrations, Lee stated his government “respects the North Korean system” and ruled out any attempt at unification through absorption or regime change. He emphasized this point by citing the suspension of loudspeaker propaganda broadcasts and leaflet campaigns targeting the North.

Lee said he would even support North Korea’s efforts to normalize diplomatic ties with other nations, including the United States, describing it as a “first step” toward peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.

His remarks come as critics question the wisdom of engaging a regime that has repeatedly violated international agreements and escalated military provocations. Nonetheless, Lee insisted that his administration would continue to reduce military tensions, arguing that “the most certain peace is a state where there is no need to fight.”