Seoul seeks to ease sanctions if Pyongyang freezes its nuclear program

For Lee, this freeze would represent a first step before any reduction and eventual dismantlement of the arsenal. He believes that the current strategy is no longer sufficiently curbing the North Korean program. According to him, South Korean intelligence services estimate that Pyongyang could already produce between 10 and 20 nuclear weapons per year.

In a separate interview with the Associated Press, the South Korean president advocated for a phased approach: first halting the expansion of the program, then reducing capabilities, and finally aiming for dismantlement. He deems it necessary to accompany this process with economic and political incentives rather than demanding complete denuclearization as a prerequisite for any dialogue.

Lee also expressed concern that an increasingly large arsenal could eventually pose a risk of transferring weapons or nuclear technologies abroad. His stance extends the position he outlined on August 15, when he proposed opening inter-Korean discussions to officially end the Korean War and explore concrete ways to halt the advancement of the North Korean nuclear program.

The proposal comes as Pyongyang continues its military demonstrations. On September 20, North Korea conducted a new ballistic missile launch from its east coast, part of a series of tests that North Korean authorities present as a strengthening of their deterrent capability. A few days earlier, Kim Yo Jong had described the country’s nuclear status as “irreversible” following a critical resolution from the International Atomic Energy Agency.

Meanwhile, Donald Trump is seeking to reopen a direct channel with Kim Jong Un. Washington has scaled back some joint military exercises with Seoul to encourage a resumption of dialogue, but has yet to secure any public commitment from Pyongyang.

Lee Jae Myung is set to present his peace strategy for the Korean Peninsula this week at the United Nations General Assembly, where he aims to advocate for a gradual approach rather than imposing denuclearization as a precondition for any negotiations.