EFFORTS TO PROMOTE PEACE AND STABILITY

Hope your workweek is off to a good start.

You're watching Press Perspective for this Monday August 18th here in Seoul.

I'm Min Sunhee.

President Lee Jae Myung has rejected unification on the Korean peninsula via absorption adding that South Korea respects North Korea's political system.

We have more on his remarks BUT FIRST we touch upon the recent talks between U.S. President Donald Trump and his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

For this I have Celio Fioretti with French daily La Croix here in the studio.

Celio it's good to have you here.

I also have Professor Ban Kil Joo at the Korea National Diplomatic Academy live on the line.

Professor Ban welcome.

Celio, let's begin with a recap of the press announcements given by Russia's Vladimir Putin and his U.S. counterpart Donald Trump in Alaska following their meeting in Alaska last Friday.

Professor Ban, many pundits believe the summit was a diplomatic win for Putin and not so much so for Trump. What are your takeaways?

Celio, what has been the response from Europe to the Alaska summit?

Professor Ban, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is scheduled to sit down with Mr. Trump at the White House on this Monday. What might he be seeking to achieve and what might he be hoping to avoid?

Celio, let's now turn our attention to an event that took place here in South Korea ALSO last Friday.

President Lee Jae Myung was formally ushered into the top office on the same day that the country marked the 80th anniversary of liberation from Japanese colonial rule.

First then, do walk us through the message shared by the president as Korea seeks a path forward from a painful chapter in its history.

Professor Ban, President Lee Jae Myung is scheduled to make a summit visit to Japan this weekend AHEAD of a similar call to the U.S.

Celio, with regard to North Korea, President Lee Jae Myung ruled out unification by absorption on the Korean peninsula.

What exactly did he say, and what has been the broader response to his remarks?

Professor Ban, again, do help us understand the broader implications of this stance by the Lee administration for peace and security on the Korean peninsula.

All right.