South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has actively promoted inter-Korean dialogue and a phased approach to halting North Korea’s nuclear and missile advances while seeking U.S. support to restart U.S.-North Korea engagement. Recent border tensions, including September landmine explosions in the DMZ that injured South Korean soldiers and prompted demands for an apology, have heightened friction. North Korea’s Kim Yo Jong rejected any contact with Seoul in early October, insisting on “utmost respect” and declaring no exchange or face-to-face meetings possible. Pyongyang has conducted multiple ballistic missile launches in October and reaffirmed its nuclear status as irreversible. Potential catalysts include the November APEC summit in China, where U.S. President Trump has signaled interest in meeting Kim Jong Un, though North Korea continues to sideline direct South Korean involvement.