South Korean presidential candidates debate about various issues in televised address

SEOUL - The liberal Democratic Party of Korea’s presidential candidate Representative Lee Jae-myung pledged to start a dialogue and map out cooperation between the two Koreas and achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula, reiterating his bid to deescalate border tensions if elected president.

During a four-way televised debate aired on May 27, Mr Lee said peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are “very important”, adding that dialogue, cooperation and peace are necessary on the Korean Peninsula, on the foundation of galvanised military strength, as well as the alliance between Seoul and Washington.

Mr Lee also blamed the former conservative Yoon Suk Yeol administration’s hardline stance against North Korea for heightening border tensions between the two Koreas, saying the Yoon administration failed to take action to stop anti-North propaganda leaflet campaigns from the South.

Mr Lee added that he would “resolve (border tensions) one by one”.

Meanwhile, Mr Lee’s conservative rival, the People Power Party’s candidate Kim Moon-soo, said he would work to strengthen South Korea’s nuclear deterrence on the foundation of the Seoul-Washington alliance to counter North Korea’s nuclear threats and missile provocations.

“We will create a South Korea that will not be shaken by any threat by achieving a balance of power,” said Mr Kim.

During the debate, Mr Kim said there is a realistic plan to devise a unique nuclear sharing model with the United States, which his rival Lee said “will make it impossible to achieve denuclearisation on the Korean Peninsula”.

Mr Kim also said he would foster transparent inter-Korean relations and deal with North Korea confidently, while blasting his liberal rival for alleged involvement in an aide’s unauthorised money transfer to North Korea while Mr Lee was serving as governor of Gyeonggi Province.

Mr Lee of the Democratic Party was 9 percentage points ahead in