South Korean President Open to Trump-Kim Deal on Nuclear Freeze

Tue Oct 14 2025 12:23:47 GMT+0300 (Eastern European Summer Time)

In a recent interview with the BBC, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expresses his willingness to support a potential agreement that would freeze North Korea's nuclear weapons production, rather than pursuing complete denuclearization at this time.

President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea has conveyed to the BBC his acceptance of a possible deal between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un that involves freezing North Korea's nuclear program. Citing the rapid production of nuclear weapons by North Korea, he emphasizes this as a realistic interim measure while still keeping denuclearization as a long-term objective. Lee's administration seeks to foster peaceful relations with the North amidst a changing geopolitical landscape.

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 denuclearisation 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 took office in June, aims to reduce tensions with North Korea, contrasting the approach of his predecessor. He hopes that Trump and Kim can revitalize their discussions, suggesting they share a degree of mutual trust that could pave the way for improved relations on the Korean Peninsula and contribute to global security.

President Lee also expressed a pragmatic view on the role of the United Nations in fostering peace, noting the complications arising from geopolitical alignments involving China and Russia. As South Korea grapples with the evolving international relations landscape, Lee's strategy indicates a preference for a balanced approach that includes engagement with the U.S. and cautious diplomacy towards North Korea.