South Korean President Says Trump Should Push North Korea to Freeze, Not Eliminate, Nuclear Arms

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in an interview that President Trump should press North Korea to freeze its nuclear weapons program rather than demand its complete elimination.

According to Lee, this approach would represent a more realistic goal for the United States to pursue in dealing with Pyongyang. He suggested that the objective set out in negotiations with North Korea should be achievable, rather than based on a demand that appears unlikely to be met under current circumstances.

Call to Ease Sanctions

In the same interview, Lee also called for an easing of international sanctions imposed on North Korea. The remarks point to Seoul's interest in finding a new approach to the long-stalled dialogue with its northern neighbor.

The South Korean president's comments were made in an interview with The New York Times and reflect Seoul's position on how best to advance talks between Washington and Pyongyang. Lee emphasized that a realistic, phased approach — beginning with a freeze on the North's nuclear program rather than insisting on immediate full disarmament — could offer a more practical path toward progress on regional nuclear security.

The statement comes as North Korea's nuclear weapons program and the sanctions regime tied to it remain a significant issue in regional security policy. Lee's remarks suggest Seoul is seeking to shape Washington's approach to the issue by proposing an alternative framework for what negotiations with Pyongyang should aim to achieve, prioritizing a freeze over the harder-to-reach goal of full denuclearization.