South Korean leader advocates freezing the North nuclear program

“ I believe there is considerable interest in finding a middle ground between sanctions — which are not in any case particularly effective — and the interruption of the development of new nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile technology,” said Lee Jae-myung.

“Looking for denuclearization in current circumstances ensures that nothing will be achieved,” South Korea’s leader said in an interview with the American New York Times, published today.

A position reiterated by Lee in written answers to questions asked by the Associated Press news agency, before leaving for New York, where he will participate, as of today, in the annual session of the UN General Assembly.

“To change the direction of a moving vehicle, it must first be stopped,” the South Korean President said. “A phased approach — stopping, reducing and decommissioning — is a practical way to effectively address the North Korean nuclear issue,” he added.

“ Given the extent of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities, it is not a realistic solution to wait until complete denuclearisation can be achieved at once,” Lee said.

“ This is because North Korea’s nuclear capabilities will continue to advance in this interval, increasing the threat,” he stressed.

Lee said that during the annual UN General Assembly meeting he would seek “a gradual and pragmatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue” and work on the basis of his vision of promoting peace in the Korean peninsula.

The South Korean leader mentioned the recent proposal for negotiations to formally end the Korean War (1950–1953) and said the initiative would allow us to explore ways to contain the North Korean nuclear program.

North Korea and South Korea are still technically at war, as the 1950-1953 conflict ended with an armistice, not with a peace treaty.

Lee advocated a comprehensive dialogue to establish a structure that benefits South Korea, the US and North Korea, and stressed the need to show Pyongyang that “progressing towards a stable and lasting peace is a realistic and viable path to a safe and prosperous future.”.

The official press of North Korea today said that the country tested a “new type” weapon on Sunday in a test accompanied by leader Kim Jong-un, without further details.

North Korea’s nuclear power status — which carried out its first nuclear test in 2006 and has since developed a wide range of ballistic missiles — has been enshrined in its constitution since 2023.