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 denuclearization 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.
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.
In a speech to parliament, 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 echoed thoughts that a potential revival of talks between Trump and Kim could greatly benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace.
The South Korean president's approach reflects a cautious optimism amid ongoing geopolitical challenges, emphasizing the importance of settling for interim measures while keeping the long-term goal intact.
