President Lee’s first month: Direction of inter-Korean relations under the Lee admin.

Welcome to Within The Frame, where we bring the most pressing issues across the globe into focus. I'm Kim Mok-yeon.

In the past month, South Korea has signaled a strategic shift in its North Korea policy — suspending loudspeaker broadcasts along the DMZ and tightening controls on anti-North leaflet launches, moves aimed at reducing cross-border tensions.

North Korea responded by halting its own propaganda broadcasts, sparking cautious optimism for a thaw in inter-Korean relations.

This softer tone is echoed in President Lee Jae Myung's foreign policy team — stacked with key figures from previous eras of engagement.

But so far, Pyongyang has stayed silent, keeping all communication channels closed and refraining from comment, even at major political events.

Tonight, in part two of our special on President Lee's first month in office, we turn our lens to his evolving North Korea strategy — what message he's sending, and whether it can reshape the long-frozen dynamics on the peninsula.

For this we are joined by Go Myong-hyun, senior research fellow at the Institute for National Security Strategy.

Also joining us online is Dr. Mark Barry, associate editor emeritus at the International Journal on World Peace.

(GO) Since taking office, the Lee Jae Myung administration has introduced a series of steps to reduce tensions with the North, including halting loudspeaker broadcasts and tightening controls on anti-North leaflets. North Korea, in response, also suspended its propaganda loudspeakers.

Could this be interpreted as a positive signal from Pyongyang toward easing tensions?

(BARRY) Despite these developments, North Korea continues to cut off all communication channels with the South.

In this context, what should be the first practical step toward restoring inter-Korean relations? Where does trust-building begin?

(GO) The Lee administration's recent appointments to its North Korea diplomacy team include figures such as Rep. Chung Dong-young and NIS chief Lee Jong-seok — key players during the early 2000s era of inter-Korean engagement.

What does this lineup suggest about the government's North Korea policy?

(BARRY) Despite Seoul's conciliatory gestures, Pyongyang has remained silent — offering no foreign policy messages even during the recent Workers' Party plenary session.

Why is North Korea maintaining this silence, and when might we expect a message directed to the South?

(GO) President Trump recently stated that he's "getting along very well" with Kim Jong-un and expressed a willingness to restart dialogue.

Yet North Korea responded by reiterating its principle of "self-reliance."

What's behind this messaging? Is it a rejection of dialogue unless there's a shift in U.S. policy?

(BARRY) Interestingly, while North Korea continues its routine criticism of the U.S., it has noticeably refrained from directly attacking President Trump.

Could this be a calculated move signaling Pyongyang's openness to dialogue with the U.S.?

(BARRY) Meanwhile, after the recent U.S. airstrike on Iran's nuclear facilities, some analysts now believe that achieving "complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization" (CVID) of North Korea is no longer realistic.

What message did this military action send to Pyongyang?

(GO) Looking ahead, if President Trump visits Korea during the APEC summit in October, there's speculation he might seek another meeting with Kim Jong-un at Panmunjom.

How likely is such a scenario? And what conditions need to be in place to resume dialogue? Should the focus shift from denuclearization to negotiating a nuclear freeze?

(GO) As Pyongyang ignores Seoul and Washington's overtures, it is strengthening ties with Moscow, including cultural and artistic exchanges alongside military cooperation.

In light of this, what strategic steps should South Korea take to safeguard regional security on the Korean Peninsula?