President Lee Proposes U.S. Sanctions Relief for North Korea's Nuclear Freeze

President Lee Jae-myung has proposed that the United States ease sanctions on North Korea in exchange for a halt to the development of additional nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology. This plan outlines a 'phased denuclearization' approach, which aims to first stop the expansion of North Korea's nuclear capabilities before moving towards reduction and elimination.

In an interview with The New York Times (NYT) published on September 21, Lee stated, "I believe there is significant value in a deal that stops the development of additional nuclear weapons and ICBM technology instead of easing sanctions that are not particularly effective." The interview took place on September 18 at the Blue House.

Ahead of his keynote address at the United Nations General Assembly on September 22, Lee remarked, "If we only aim for denuclearization in the current situation, we will achieve nothing." He emphasized that waiting for progress in negotiations while North Korea continues to expand its nuclear arsenal is not a viable strategy.

In a written interview with The Associated Press, Lee explained the sequence of denuclearization as 'halt, reduce, eliminate.' He noted, "To change the direction of a moving car, you must first stop it," suggesting that a phased approach is a realistic way to address the North Korean nuclear issue. The first step should be to halt the expansion of nuclear capabilities, while full denuclearization remains the ultimate goal.

Lee also presented estimates that North Korea may have the capacity to produce an additional 10 to 20 nuclear weapons each year or may already be in the process of doing so. He warned that if North Korea believes it has secured enough nuclear weapons and missiles to ensure regime survival, it might seek to export them for profit, stating, "That would be a truly dangerous moment."

However, concerns have been raised that North Korea could freeze only part of its nuclear capabilities and then refuse to fully eliminate them after receiving sanctions relief. Lee stressed the need to establish a dialogue framework that benefits South Korea, the U.S., and North Korea, emphasizing the importance of creating conditions where North Korea can achieve security and prosperity without nuclear weapons.

Lee views former President Donald Trump as key to resuming dialogue between the U.S. and North Korea. He expressed hope that Trump could bring North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to the negotiating table, stating that both South Korea and the U.S. are "prepared to engage in dialogue with North Korea without preconditions."

Regarding Trump's recent decision to scale back the size of U.S.-South Korea joint military exercises, Lee described the move as "somewhat unexpected," but interpreted it as an effort to send a message of no hostile intent toward North Korea.

The issue of U.S. investment was also addressed in the interviews. The NYT reported that South Korean negotiators are accelerating efforts to implement a $350 billion investment agreement reached between the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. last fall. In exchange for lowering tariffs on South Korean products, South Korea committed to this substantial investment.

According to sources familiar with the matter, South Korea may propose the construction of a gas-fired power plant in Texas and eight nuclear power plants across the U.S.

Lee also responded to Trump's criticism of South Korea's non-participation in the war against Iran. He explained to the NYT that sending South Korean troops to conflicts already occurring among other nations is not constitutionally permissible. He acknowledged, "I fully understand that the U.S. president can express various opinions on this matter."

He reiterated his commitment to enhancing practical cooperation between South Korea and the U.S., stating that cooperation in shipbuilding would strengthen the U.S. shipbuilding industry and naval power while providing new growth opportunities for South Korean companies.

On the topic of the United Nations, Lee called for reforms to eliminate organizational redundancies and inefficiencies, advocating for greater authority for field personnel. He urged the international community to work together to ensure that more people can benefit from advancements in artificial intelligence.