The U.S. ally has been without a permanent leader since late last year, when Yoon Suk Yeol was impeached over his botched declaration of martial law.

South Korea’s newly elected President Lee Jae-myung took office with a pledge to revive the nation’s tariff-hit economy and seek dialogue with North Korea to diffuse tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

South Korea’s new President Lee Jae-myung says he’ll pursue dialogue with North Korea while bolstering a trilateral partnership with the U.S. and Japan.