President Lee Jae-myung will attend the 80th United Nations General Assembly in New York, where, for the first time as a South Korean president, he will chair an open debate at the United Nations Security Council. On the 23rd, he is also scheduled to deliver a keynote address at the General Assembly.

This year’s UN General Assembly, held in New York, will run for about a week, starting from the third Tuesday of September, and is expected to gather high-level representatives from all 193 member states.

During a briefing on the 2nd, Kang Yoo-jung, spokesperson for the Presidential Office, stated, “In his speech, President Lee intends to share South Korea’s experience in overcoming challenges to democracy and will present the government’s vision and policies on global issues, including matters concerning the Korean Peninsula.”

Kang further explained, “South Korea holds the presidency of the Security Council for the month of September. The open debate will focus on artificial intelligence and its implications for international peace and security, with particular attention to how the rapid progression of AI technology may impact global stability.”

Of particular interest at this year’s session is the message President Lee will deliver regarding the Korean Peninsula. Since former President Roh Tae-woo’s address in 1988, each South Korean president has delivered peace-oriented remarks at the UN, and President Lee is also expected to emphasize the need for dialogue-based peace initiatives.

Notably, the assembly coincides with the Chinese Victory Day celebrations, drawing attention to whether President Lee’s address will succeed in rallying international engagement regarding North Korea, especially amid increasing trilateral ties between North Korea, China, and Russia. On the same day, U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to attend the session, raising speculation about the possibility of a brief conversation or informal meeting between the two leaders.

Addressing these prospects, spokesperson Kang commented, “As this is a large multilateral diplomatic arena attended by numerous world leaders, there is a possibility for summit diplomacy. However, it is too early to confirm any specific arrangements or meetings at this stage.”

Note “This article was translated from the original Korean version using AI assistance, and subsequently edited by a native-speaking journalist.”

Photo=Yonhap News