"Above all, the most critical task is to end the longstanding war on the Korean Peninsula and build a peace framework," Lee said in his address to the high-level session of the 81st General Assembly at U.N. headquarters in New York.
He outlined a phased approach to North Korea's nuclear program, beginning with a halt to further advances in its nuclear and missile capabilities, followed by reductions over the medium term and a nuclear-free peninsula over the long term.
Lee said recent decisions by U.S. President Donald Trump had opened a possibility for change.
"South Korea will lay the groundwork for the swift resumption of long-stalled U.S.–North Korea dialogue and for it to develop into talks among the parties on ending the war on the Korean Peninsula and transitioning to a peace framework," he said.
Such talks could help normalize relations among the countries involved while supporting shared growth through multilateral cooperation and greater stability in Northeast Asia, he added.
North Korea's delegation seats were reportedly empty during the address.
Lee reiterated three principles for peaceful coexistence that he had outlined in his Liberation Day speech: mutual respect, institutional safeguards against conflict and a contribution to broader world peace.
"We will seek shared growth through cooperation, based on respect for each other's systems and recognition of our differences," he said.
He pledged to respect North Korea on the international stage and pursue cooperation where possible, including on health, disasters and climate change.
Restoring basic communication channels and rebuilding trust would be the first steps toward stable coexistence, he said.
"We will create institutional mechanisms to prevent crises and manage conflict."
Lee also pledged to promote stability and cooperation in Northeast Asia beyond the goal of a peninsula free of war and nuclear weapons.
He called on the United Nations and its Security Council to play "responsible and constructive" roles in supporting that process.
"Our government, as a party to peace on the Korean Peninsula and a pacemaker, will do everything it can to open and sustain the path to dialogue," he said.
Beyond the peninsula, Lee pledged that South Korea would "take the lead in restoring the spirit of the United Nations and reconnecting the world."
He presented a "K-Initiative" built around three priorities: sharing the benefits of artificial intelligence, accelerating the green transition and strengthening cooperation on global energy supply chains.
Citing maritime blockades in the Strait of Hormuz and the Red Sea, Lee warned of the consequences of turning vital energy and logistics routes into weapons.
"Attacks on merchant ships and threats to the lives and safety of seafarers cannot be justified under any circumstances," he said.
South Korea would make greater use of existing cooperation mechanisms, including the International Energy Agency, while strengthening energy supply-chain coordination to prevent disruptions from spreading into a global economic and cost-of-living crisis.
To advance these shared priorities, Lee proposed a "coalition of constructive contributors" — countries with the capacity and willingness to address common challenges that could begin cooperating without waiting for universal agreement.
The proposal was intended to support the existing international order and the United Nations through flexible, open cooperation, he said.
"We cannot simply sit back and wait until every country agrees on a single solution."
On artificial intelligence, Lee called for a "global AI basic society," in which all countries and people share in the technology's benefits.
He said South Korea was pursuing an AI-driven transformation to strengthen basic rights across health care, social protection, employment, housing and culture. It would also establish a "global AI hub" bringing together international organizations, multilateral development banks, industry and academia.
Lee warned that AI could deepen inequality without adequate preparation, even as it offered new tools to address climate change, health, food security and refugee challenges.
On climate policy, he pointed to South Korea's 2035 emissions-reduction target and its green transformation strategy, which aims to turn the pursuit of carbon neutrality into new sources of growth and quality jobs.
He also endorsed U.N. reform to reduce duplication, accelerate decisions and direct scarce resources toward the most urgent needs.
"The United Nations, too, must change with the times," Lee said, backing the UN80 Initiative and reforms to make the Security Council more effective, democratic and accountable.
AJP Takeaways
- Lee pledged to help restart U.S.–North Korea talks as a foundation for ending the war and building a lasting peace framework on the peninsula.
- His nuclear roadmap starts with halting further advances in North Korea's capabilities, followed by medium-term reductions and a nuclear-free peninsula over the long term.
- He proposed cooperation on AI, the green transition and energy security under a "K-Initiative," supported by an open coalition of countries willing and able to contribute.
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