Seoul: President Lee Jae Myung has proposed suspending the South Korea-U.S. joint military drills, suggesting that the exercises could serve as either leverage or a result of improved inter-Korean relations. Speaking to reporters aboard the presidential jet en route to Turkey after the G20 summit in South Africa, Lee emphasized that the joint drills are among the most sensitive issues for North Korea.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Lee stated that once a durable peace is established between the two Koreas, suspending the joint drills would be desirable. He noted that if a peace system is in place, the two Koreas would no longer need to fight, and the U.S. would benefit, as President Donald Trump has expressed his dislike for the costly war games. This marks the first time Lee has publicly suggested suspending the joint drills, albeit conditionally.

South Korea and the United States conduct two major exercises annually: Freedom Shield in March and Ulchi Freedom Shield in August. North Korea has reacted strongly to these exercises, demanding U.S. recognition of its nuclear power status and the suspension of joint military exercises as prerequisites for resuming talks with Washington.

Lee has expressed skepticism about the feasibility of North Korean denuclearization, viewing it as unrealistic at this stage due to the North's existing arsenal. He proposed a three-stage approach involving freezing, scaling back, and eventually complete denuclearization of North Korea's programs. However, North Korea has dismissed this framework, reiterating its refusal to abandon its nuclear weapons.

The editorial in The Korea Times urges policymakers in Seoul to consider the implications when peace overtures go unanswered. Progress is seen as possible only when the two Koreas share a common understanding, yet North Korea has consistently rejected Lee's proposals. Lee has called for patience and continued peace gestures to draw Pyongyang back to talks. However, the critical question remains whether North Korea even regards the South as its counterpart.

Policy reversals with each change of government have compounded the issue, as South Korea has alternated between hard-line strategies and engagement approaches based on the ruling political party. Neither approach has led to meaningful progress in inter-Korean relations, and North Korea has used these policy shifts to advance its nuclear and missile capabilities.

Since taking office in June, Lee appears to be repeating the mistakes of his predecessors, criticizing previous conservative administrations' policies toward the North. He questioned their use of rhetoric like "unification by absorption" and criticized former President Park Geun-hye's "jackpot" unification assertion, which he believes heightened North Korea's fear of invasion.

Lee emphasized that his administration does not seek unification by absorption but rather prioritizes dialogue and negotiation for peaceful coexistence. The editorial warns that if South Korea continues this cycle of policy reversals, it will only benefit North Korea, which will continue to develop its nuclear and missile programs, posing an even greater threat to international security. The moment to break this cycle is now.