In brief
South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung has indicated he would agree to a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un that would see North Korea freeze its nuclear weapons production. Noting the escalating production by North Korea, Lee described this freeze as a realistic alternative to complete denuclearization for the time being. He believes that while South Korea must retain its long-term goal of denuclearization, immediate measures to halt North Korea's weapons development could yield clear benefits. As tensions in the region continue to rise, Lee emphasizes the importance of restoring relations with North Korea after a period of hostility under his predecessor.
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 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 [of denuclearisation] or we set more realistic goals and achieve some of them,' Lee added.
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'. This could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security, he added.
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, due to the blocking efforts from both China and Russia to impose further sanctions on the North.
'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, while adding that reforming the Security Council was 'not very realistic.'
Lee expressed concerns over the flourishing ties between China, Russia, and North Korea, indicating that this alliance places South Korea in a precarious position.
Ultimately, Lee aims for a balanced approach as he navigates the complexities of international relations amidst an increasingly divided global landscape, all while pursuing a path toward peace on the Korean Peninsula.
