South Korea's president has stated he would accept a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un under which North Korea would agree to freeze production of its nuclear weapons for now, rather than get rid of them.
Lee Jae Myung told the BBC that North Korea is producing an additional 15-20 nuclear weapons a year, and a freeze would serve as 'an interim emergency measure' that he considers 'a feasible, realistic alternative.'
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2022 and vowed never to relinquish its weapons. Previous attempts at negotiation have failed, and Pyongyang has rejected invitations to return to talks.
'As long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearization, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development,' Lee emphasized.
Lee, who took office in June, is keen on establishing peaceful relations with North Korea and decreasing tensions that escalated under his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for attempting to impose martial law last year.
He expressed hope that Trump and Kim could resume talks, suggesting they appear to share a degree of mutual trust. This development could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security.
In the interview, Lee also touched on South Korea’s presidency at the UN Security Council and the noticeable resistance from both China and Russia to impose further sanctions on North Korea. While he acknowledged that the UN has shortcomings in fostering global peace, he noted it still plays essential functions.
The evolving relationships among China, Russia, and North Korea create a precarious position for South Korea. Lee stated, 'Seeing China, Russia, and North Korea become so close is clearly not desirable for us' and emphasized the need for close collaboration with the U.S. and Japan.
Despite admitting that the current geopolitical climate is challenging, he remains optimistic that South Korea can navigate between superpowers strategically without alienating any side. Observing that relations between countries are complex, Lee concluded that opportunities for cooperation should always be sought.
Lee Jae Myung told the BBC that North Korea is producing an additional 15-20 nuclear weapons a year, and a freeze would serve as 'an interim emergency measure' that he considers 'a feasible, realistic alternative.'
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2022 and vowed never to relinquish its weapons. Previous attempts at negotiation have failed, and Pyongyang has rejected invitations to return to talks.
'As long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearization, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development,' Lee emphasized.
Lee, who took office in June, is keen on establishing peaceful relations with North Korea and decreasing tensions that escalated under his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for attempting to impose martial law last year.
He expressed hope that Trump and Kim could resume talks, suggesting they appear to share a degree of mutual trust. This development could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security.
In the interview, Lee also touched on South Korea’s presidency at the UN Security Council and the noticeable resistance from both China and Russia to impose further sanctions on North Korea. While he acknowledged that the UN has shortcomings in fostering global peace, he noted it still plays essential functions.
The evolving relationships among China, Russia, and North Korea create a precarious position for South Korea. Lee stated, 'Seeing China, Russia, and North Korea become so close is clearly not desirable for us' and emphasized the need for close collaboration with the U.S. and Japan.
Despite admitting that the current geopolitical climate is challenging, he remains optimistic that South Korea can navigate between superpowers strategically without alienating any side. Observing that relations between countries are complex, Lee concluded that opportunities for cooperation should always be sought.
