Johannesburg: President Lee Jae Myung asked German Chancellor Friedrich Merz to share the European country's experience with overcoming division and achieving its reunification during their talks on the margins of the Group of 20 summit in South Africa on Saturday. Lee made the remarks as his administration has sought to resume engagement with North Korea and ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula since taking office in June. Pyongyang has remained unresponsive to Seoul's repeated dialogue overtures.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee emphasized the importance of learning from Germany's experience, stating, "There is much for the Republic of Korea to learn from Germany's experience." He highlighted the need for South Korea to understand the methods through which Germany overcame its division and achieved reunification, suggesting that South Korea should follow a similar path.

In a lighter moment, when Lee jokingly inquired if Germany possessed any "secret know-how" on reunification, Merz replied that no such secret exists. He affirmed the strong bilateral relationship between South Korea and Germany and expressed hope for further strengthening of cooperation between the two nations.

Merz also indicated his interest in the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and its surrounding areas. He was keen to understand South Korea's perspective on China, as Germany is currently contemplating its strategy regarding the Asian superpower.