South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is urging the United States to consider easing sanctions on North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang freezing further development of its nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile capabilities.
Lee made the proposal in interviews with The New York Times and Associated Press ahead of the United Nations General Assembly in New York. He argued that insisting on complete denuclearisation under current conditions would not produce progress and that a nuclear freeze could serve as an initial step toward eventual reductions and dismantlement.
Under the approach outlined by Lee, North Korea would first halt further advances in its nuclear and missile programs. Political and economic incentives could then be offered in stages as Pyongyang moves toward reducing its arsenal and ultimately dismantling it.
Lee said South Korean assessments indicate North Korea could be capable of producing, or may already be producing, an additional 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually. He warned that allowing the current stalemate to continue could increase the risk that Pyongyang eventually seeks to export nuclear weapons or related technology for financial gain.
The proposal represents a shift from a “denuclearisation first” approach toward what South Korean officials have described as a “peace first” strategy focused on dialogue, confidence-building and peaceful coexistence. Lee has said both Seoul and Washington remain open to engaging Pyongyang without preconditions.
However, relations between the two Koreas remain tense. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has described South Korea as the North’s most hostile state and has continued strengthening the country’s military capabilities. North Korea has also rejected recent US efforts to restart diplomacy.
The White House and US State Department had not responded to requests for comment on Lee’s remarks at the time of the AsiaOne report. US President Donald Trump has previously held summits with Kim and is seeking renewed engagement with Pyongyang, while Lee has expressed support for restarting US-North Korea talks.
At the UN General Assembly, Lee reiterated his phased proposal, calling for a halt to further nuclear and missile development first, followed by reductions and eventual denuclearisation. He also called for renewed US-North Korea dialogue and a formal effort to establish lasting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
