Jakarta. President Prabowo Subianto said South Korean President Lee Jae Myung had asked Indonesia to help open a channel of dialogue with North Korea, as Seoul seeks to ease tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Prabowo said he was prepared to respond to Lee’s request as part of Indonesia’s efforts to promote peace, according to remarks he made at a meeting with the Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (Kadin) on Friday.
“During my last visit to South Korea, President Lee asked whether I could visit North Korea to open some kind of dialogue. I told him, with all due respect and willingness, if you ask me, I am ready to go,” Prabowo said, as quoted by Antara on Saturday.
Prabowo was referring to his meeting with Lee in Seoul in April, when the two leaders discussed bilateral ties as well as regional and international issues.
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He reiterated Indonesia’s long-standing foreign policy of maintaining friendly relations with all countries, including China and the United States, while avoiding interference in other countries’ internal affairs.
“We firmly uphold this principle,” Prabowo said, emphasizing Indonesia’s position as a country without an interest in interfering in the domestic affairs of other nations.
Seoul Welcomes Indonesia’s Role
South Korea’s presidential office said Seoul believed Indonesia and other countries maintaining friendly relations with both Koreas could play a constructive role in promoting peaceful coexistence on the Korean Peninsula.
The South Korean government also said it would continue exploring opportunities for diplomatic cooperation.
Indonesia’s potential role comes as Seoul’s efforts to engage Pyongyang have faced repeated setbacks. Since taking office, Lee has sought to reduce military tensions with North Korea and revive dialogue between the two sides, but Pyongyang has repeatedly rejected overtures from Seoul.
Tensions have remained high since North Korea formally abandoned its long-standing goal of reunification and designated South Korea as its “principal enemy” in 2024.
Indonesia, which traditionally follows a free and active, non-aligned foreign policy, has previously expressed its willingness to help mediate international conflicts. In March, Foreign Minister Sugiono said Prabowo was prepared to act as a mediator in the conflict involving Iran in an effort to ease tensions in the Middle East.
Prabowo and Lee’s April meeting also resulted in agreements to expand strategic cooperation between Indonesia and South Korea, including in energy security and defense.
Indonesia has maintained longstanding ties with North Korea dating back to the 1960s, when President Sukarno established close relations with North Korean leader Kim Il Sung. The relationship was symbolized in part by the naming of the Kimilsungia orchid after the North Korean leader.
At the same time, Jakarta has developed close strategic and economic ties with South Korea, including cooperation in trade, investment, defense and technology.
The combination of Indonesia’s historical ties with Pyongyang and its strategic partnership with Seoul could give Jakarta a potentially useful position as a bridge for communication between the two sides.
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