South Korea's President Supports Trump-Kim Nuclear Freeze Deal

Tue Oct 14 2025 12:23:17 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent interview, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed his willingness to support a Trump-Kim agreement to freeze North Korea's nuclear weapons program, viewing it as a realistic compromise amidst ongoing tensions.

During an interview with the BBC, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stated he would accept a deal to freeze North Korea's nuclear weapon production as an interim solution. He views this step as essential to maintaining peace and hopes to re-establish diplomatic relations with North Korea. Lee emphasized the importance of balancing aggressive denuclearization goals with more achievable interim measures, especially in light of escalating tensions in the region.

In a significant diplomatic stance, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced his support for a scenario where North Korea would agree to freeze the production of its nuclear arsenal, rather than fully dismantling it immediately. This revelation was made during an interview with the BBC.

President Lee acknowledged the ongoing threat posed by North Korea, stating that the nation is capable of producing an additional 15-20 nuclear weapons annually. He referred to a temporary halt in production as 'an interim emergency measure' that could serve as a practical compromise while pursuing longer-term denuclearization goals.

This comes amid a backdrop of North Korea having declared itself a nuclear power in 2022, firmly stating its intention to retain its nuclear capabilities. Previous negotiations aimed at denuclearization have faltered, with North Korea rejecting all recent invitations to recommence discussions.

President Lee remarked, So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearization, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development. He advocates for establishing more realistic objectives in lieu of failures in previous diplomacy attempts.

Since taking office in June, Lee has promoted a vision for peaceful relations with the North, directly contrasting the hardline approach of his predecessor, Yoon Suk Yeol, whose administration faced significant backlash after attempting a martial law declaration.South Korea's diplomatic relationship with the U.S. is pivotal, and Lee is encouraging President Trump to resume negotiations with Kim Jong Un. He posited that a mutual sense of trust developed between Trump and Kim could foster a conducive environment for diplomatic engagement.

Looking ahead, President Lee will be representing South Korea at the upcoming United Nations General Assembly and is expected to address the challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear ambitions and the complicated dynamics involving both China and Russia's influence in the region. He noted the growing alliance between these nations as not desirable for South Korea, advocating for a maintained partnership with the U.S. and Japan in a strategically challenging landscape.