As anticipated, newly elected South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has announced his intention to soften the hardline North Korea policies of the previous administration.

The Democratic Party candidate was widely expected to shift away from former President Yoon Suk-yeol’s approach to North Korea, and one of his first actions in office was to participate in a force posture review alongside South Korea’s top military leaders.

The issue of potential U.S. troop reductions on the Korean Peninsula is likely to resurface, as the Democratic Party has long favored dialogue over confrontation with North Korea. Many South Korean politicians aligned with President Lee view a reduction in the U.S. military presence as a worthwhile concession if it helps improve relations with Pyongyang.