In brief
In an interview with the BBC, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung revealed that he would welcome a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un that would see North Korea freeze its nuclear weapons production rather than eliminate its arsenal. Lee emphasizes that a freeze would be a pragmatic step while still aiming for the long-term goal of denuclearization. This comes as tensions mount in the region and as South Korea prepares for its role in the upcoming UN General Assembly.
South Korea's president has said he would agree to a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un in which North Korea agreed to freeze production of its nuclear weapons, rather than get rid of them.Lee Jae Myung told the BBC that North Korea was producing an additional 15-20 nuclear weapons a year and that a freeze - as 'an interim emergency measure' - would be 'a feasible, realistic alternative' to denuclearisation for now.North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2022 and vowed to never relinquish its weapons.So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearisation, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development, Lee Jae Myung said. The question is whether we persist with fruitless attempts towards the ultimate goal or we set more realistic goals and achieve some of them.President Lee, who entered office in June, wants to establish peaceful relations with North Korea and reduce tensions, which flared under his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for trying to impose martial law last year.The South Korean leader has been vocal about wanting President Trump to resume nuclear talks with Kim, which broke down in 2019 during Trump's first term, after the US asked the North to dismantle its nuclear facilities.In a speech to parliament on Sunday, the North Korean leader suggested he would be willing to negotiate with Trump – but only if the US dropped its demand for the North to denuclearise.Lee told the BBC that he thought it possible that Trump and Kim could come back together, given they seem to have a degree of mutual trust, which could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security.The BBC sat down with the South Korean president at his office in Seoul, ahead of his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York.South Korea currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council, but Lee would not be drawn on whether the body was failing South Korea, as China and Russia have blocked attempts to impose further sanctions on the North over its nuclear programme.While it's clear the UN is falling short when it comes to creating a truly peaceful world, I still believe it is performing many important functions, Lee said, adding that reforming the Security Council was 'not very realistic'.Lee also expressed concerns about growing ties between China, Russia, and North Korea, indicating it puts South Korea in a very difficult situation. He emphasized the need to maintain close relations with the US and Japan as a counterbalance.Lee's administration seeks to repair the damage done by his predecessor's hostile policies, and he is attempting to foster trust through dialogue. He has halted provocative radio broadcasts into North Korea to avoid antagonizing the regime, viewing such gestures as vital for dialogue.While the North has dismissed Lee's efforts as unrealistic, he remains hopeful that a new diplomatic path with the US could provide a framework for stability on the Korean Peninsula.
