South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged the United States to consider easing sanctions on North Korea in return for Pyongyang agreeing to freeze the development of its nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile programmes.
In an interview reported by The New York Times, Lee argued that a step-by-step agreement could provide a practical way to break the current deadlock over North Korea’s nuclear programme. He said sanctions relief could be exchanged for a halt to further nuclear and missile development, with additional incentives potentially offered as Pyongyang makes further progress.
Lee advocates a phased approach
Lee’s proposal differs from an immediate demand for complete nuclear disarmament. Speaking separately to the Associated Press, he said the process should begin by stopping further advances in North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities, followed by reductions in its arsenal and eventually dismantlement. Political and economic incentives would accompany each stage.
The South Korean president said continuing the current stalemate carries risks because North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are believed to be expanding. He cited South Korean assessments that Pyongyang could be capable of producing, or may already be producing, an additional 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually.
North Korea remains resistant to dialogue
Lee’s proposal comes as efforts to restart negotiations with Pyongyang remain uncertain. North Korea has continued developing and testing weapons and has previously rejected approaches centred on denuclearisation as a condition for talks.
On Tuesday, North Korea announced what it described as a successful test of a new missile system, while South Korea reported detecting two short-range missile launches from the country’s eastern coast.
At the same time, South Korea, the United States and Japan reaffirmed their commitment to the complete denuclearisation of North Korea and called for the resumption of dialogue. The three countries also said they would continue implementing UN sanctions and monitoring efforts against sanctions evasion.
Washington and Seoul seek renewed diplomacy
Lee has indicated that renewed US-North Korea engagement could provide an opening for broader negotiations. US President Donald Trump has expressed interest in reviving his personal diplomacy with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un.
The South Korean president’s latest comments highlight the difficult balance between maintaining pressure on Pyongyang and creating incentives that could bring it back to negotiations. Whether North Korea would accept a nuclear freeze in exchange for sanctions relief remains uncertain.
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