South Korean leaders call for deterrence and dialogue at Seoul Defense Dialogue

At the opening of the 2026 Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), President Lee Jae-myung emphasized the importance of maintaining strong deterrence while expanding the scope of dialogue for peace and prosperity on the Korean Peninsula. Addressing the conference, which brought together approximately 1,000 participants from 67 countries, Lee characterized the current international security environment as an “unprecedented complex crisis” involving geopolitical conflicts, threats to nuclear non-proliferation, and emerging risks from artificial intelligence and supply chain instabilities.

Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek expressed strong hope for the resumption of North Korea-United States dialogue, suggesting that such talks should eventually lead to inter-Korean dialogue. Ahn noted that while the military will maintain high readiness and strength to support peace efforts, the South Korean military aims to act as a “pacemaker” to support a “peacemaker.” He also advocated for “strategic restraint,” describing it as a sign of confidence and responsibility for powerful nations to prevent miscalculations and escalation.

Both leaders underscored the need for new models of security cooperation to address modern threats like AI and technological shifts, stressing that no single nation can resolve these complex global issues alone.