South Korea's president Lee Jae Myung: 'When I look at inter-Korean relations these days, it feels as though we have truly become enemies.' Photograph: Ahn Young-Joon/Getty ImagesDenis Staunton's guide to understanding world events - what’s happening, why it matters and how it affects youSouth Korea’s new president has opened the door to renewed dialogue and co-operation with North Korea. After a protracted tussle between South Korea’s foreign ministry and unification ministry over how to deal with North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung last Friday made clear which side he was on. The unification ministry wants to ease some of the sanctions imposed on North Korea, which ban most inter-Korean trade and travel, arguing that they are ineffective and counterproductive. “If he’d like to meet, I’m around,” Trump said when he visited South Korea last October.

Source: The Irish Times December 24, 2025 16:41 UTC