OMNI Features｜South Korea Would Accept a Trump-Kim Deal to Freeze Nuclear Programme, President Tells BBC

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung told the BBC he would accept a potential deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un that freezes North Korea's nuclear weapons production, describing it as a "feasible, realistic alternative" to full denuclearisation.

North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2022 and vowed never to relinquish its weapons. Since 2019, North Korea has rejected all invitations to return to talks. President Lee suggested that Pyongyang is producing up to 20 nuclear weapons annually and argued that halting development, a freeze on further weapons production could serve as an interim and realistic step toward eventual denuclearization; halting further expansion could still reduce threats and foster stability.

Lee, who took office in June, is seeking to ease tensions after years of strained relations under his predecessor. He seeks emphasized the importance of reviving Trump–Kim talks, highlighting their residual mutual trust, which could benefit both the Korean Peninsula and global peace.

The president acknowledged the limits of the UN Security Council, where China and Russia have blocked stronger sanctions on Pyongyang, but said the body still plays an important role. He noted that South Korea must carefully balance its ties with the U.S., Japan, and China to avoid being cornered.

He described the growing closeness between China, Russia, and North Korea as "undesirable" for Seoul, stressing that South Korea will strengthen ties with the US and Japan while avoiding unnecessary enmities.

Positioning South Korea in a divided world, Lee presents himself as a centrist leader. He condemned Russia's invasion of Ukraine yet refrained from fully closing the door on future cooperation with Moscow, underscoring his strategy of pragmatism and coexistence. By adopting a flexible stance, Lee aims to secure South Korea's interests amid intensifying global polarization and its precarious location next to 2 authoritarian powers.

Reference: BBC