South Korea Open to Trump-Kim Nuclear Freeze Proposal, Says President Lee

Wed Dec 03 2025 08:40:25 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

In a recent BBC interview, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung expressed willingness to accept a Trump-Kim deal that would freeze North Korea's nuclear weapon production as an interim measure.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has indicated that he would support a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un aimed at freezing North Korea's nuclear program. This comes amid ongoing tensions and a stalled dialogue since previous negotiations fell through. Lee emphasized the need for a realistic approach to reduce nuclear threats from North Korea while discussing the geopolitical dynamics involving China and Russia.

In a revealing interview with the BBC, South Korea's President Lee Jae Myung stated that he would endorse a proposal from former President Donald Trump that calls for North Korea to freeze its nuclear program instead of dismantling it entirely. Lee characterized a freeze as a temporary and pragmatic solution given North Korea's continued production of 15 to 20 nuclear weapons annually.

Lee noted that although North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2022, it is crucial for ongoing dialogue to persist. The president pointed out the advantages of halting missile and nuclear development while still striving for eventual denuclearization in the long run.

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, Lee remarked, underscoring the necessity of setting realistic goals amid a pattern of failed diplomatic attempts.

Since entering office in June, President Lee has been aiming to de-escalate tensions that spiked under his predecessor, who faced impeachment due to a failed martial law attempt. Lee envisions peaceful relations with North Korea and encourages the United States to resume talks with Pyongyang.

Despite these diplomatic overtures, North Korea has yet to respond positively, dismissing Lee's position as unrealistic. Observing the evolving geopolitical landscape—marked by China and Russia's strengthening ties with North Korea—Lee is cautious about navigating South Korea's foreign relations.

In response to his challenges, Lee expressed that maintaining South Korea's alliance with the US remains paramount, while trying to carefully manage ties with adjacent powers like China and Russia. The dynamics are particularly challenging, especially in light of virtually no dialogue with North Korea and the growing clout these nations wield in the region.