The President of South Korea begins his term by enhancing peace with North Korea.

Lee Jae-myung was inaugurated as President of South Korea after his overwhelming victory in the early elections held yesterday, Tuesday, where he received 49.4% of the votes, leading by a significant margin over his conservative rival Kim Moon-soo.

In his first speech after officially taking office today, Wednesday, Lee pledged to resume dialogue with his northern neighbor to improve relations, emphasizing that "peace is better than war no matter the cost."

The new president explained that his government will rely on "strong deterrence" against any nuclear or military provocations from North Korea, based on the strong military alliance with the United States, but at the same time emphasized keeping communication channels open with Pyongyang to solidify peace on the Korean Peninsula.

Lee stated in his inaugural speech that he will adopt a realistic diplomacy that enhances trilateral cooperation between Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo, relying on South Korea's alliance with the United States as a cornerstone of security.

He also warned that the escalation of global protectionism, along with supply chain restructuring, poses an existential threat to his country, which heavily relies on exports, pointing out that these challenges come amid disruptions in global trade sparked by U.S. President Donald Trump.

Lee's inauguration was immediate due to the vacancy in the presidency following the impeachment of former President Yoon Suk-yeol, without waiting for the usual transitional period.

During the inauguration ceremony, Lee assumed operational command of the armed forces and urged the army to maintain readiness for any potential provocations from North Korea, while his speech was marked by a clear conciliatory tone reflecting a desire for peace and stability.