SEOUL, June 19 (Parliament Politics Magazine) – South Korean President Lee Jae Myung announced on Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump has agreed to consider a new proposal aimed at addressing North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
During a press briefing following his return from the G7 summit in France, Lee stated that the two leaders discussed a phased strategy that prioritizes short-term containment of nuclear capabilities while maintaining full denuclearization as a long-term goal.
The proposal suggests focusing initially on halting North Korea from producing additional nuclear material, preventing the overseas transfer of weapons, and stopping further development of intercontinental ballistic missile technology. Lee noted that Trump appeared receptive to this methodology during their 90-minute discussion at a dinner on the sidelines of the summit.
“Without giving up on denuclearisation, I explained that we should go step by step – short term, medium term and long term – rather than immediately,” Lee told reporters.
According to Lee, Trump remarked that the phased strategy “could be one way” to address the situation and promised to give the matter careful consideration. Lee indicated that Trump expressed a desire to resume dialogue with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, despite having reservations regarding the best path forward given the current diplomatic stalemate.
The discussion also touched upon the limitations of existing international pressure. Lee explained to the U.S. leader that reliance on sanctions and pressure alone has proved insufficient to resolve the nuclear issue. He highlighted that Pyongyang continues to produce enough nuclear material annually to construct approximately 10 to 20 nuclear weapons, while its intercontinental ballistic missile technology is nearing a final stage.
The effectiveness of current sanctions has been further complicated by shifting geopolitical alliances. Lee pointed out that military cooperation between North Korea and Russia regarding the ongoing war in Ukraine has significantly undermined the impact of international restrictive measures.
Beyond nuclear security, the meeting in France addressed industrial and regional cooperation. President Lee confirmed that President Trump inquired about the capability of South Korea to rapidly construct 10 U.S. warships. Lee responded affirmatively, noting that South Korean firms are prepared to leverage a $150 billion investment agreement in the United States to support such initiatives.
During his broader 10-day tour of Europe, Lee engaged with several world leaders and visited the Vatican. While meeting with Pope Leo, the South Korean president requested that the pontiff consider a visit to the Demilitarized Zone, and if feasible, North Korea. This diplomatic effort serves as part of a wider strategy to facilitate renewed international attention toward the Korean Peninsula as Pyongyang maintains a hardline stance, having previously declared its nuclear status to be non-negotiable.
