Lee: "Waiting for Complete Denuclearization All at Once Is Unrealistic"

President Lee’s AP Interview Ahead of UN General Assembly
"North Korea’s Nuclear Program: Stop, Reduce, and Dismantle"
Proposes ‘Phased Denuclearization’ at the UN
"Both South Korea and the US Are Open to Unconditional Dialogue"
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President Lee Jae-myung has once again presented his vision for the denuclearization of North Korea through a phased approach of "suspension, reduction, and dismantlement." He emphasized that, given North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities have already reached a considerable level, it is more practical to first halt further advancement, then move toward reduction and eventual dismantlement, rather than waiting to achieve complete denuclearization in a single step. President Lee plans to share this "phased and pragmatic solution" with the international community at this year's United Nations (UN) General Assembly.

President Lee Jae-myung and First Lady Kim Hye-kyung are greeting the welcome party aboard Air Force One upon their arrival at New York JFK International Airport on the 21st (local time). 2026.9.22 Yonhap News Agency

On the 21st (local time), the Associated Press released a written interview with President Lee ahead of his attendance at the UN General Assembly, in which he laid out these ideas. President Lee stated, "To change the direction of a moving car, you first have to bring it to a stop," and asserted, "A phased approach—suspension, reduction, and dismantlement—is the practical method to effectively resolve the North Korean nuclear issue."

President Lee cited the significant advancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities as the reason for this step-by-step approach. He said, "Considering the extent of North Korea's nuclear and missile development, waiting until complete denuclearization is achieved all at once is not a realistic solution," noting, "During that time, North Korea’s nuclear capabilities will continue to advance and the threat will only grow."

This presents a clearer vision for a phased approach: to first freeze North Korea's nuclear capabilities, provide corresponding economic and political measures, and work toward final denuclearization. The Associated Press reported that U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned last month that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, and some experts suggest the actual number of warheads could exceed 100.

President Lee intends to present this "phased and pragmatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue" at the UN General Assembly, while outlining his vision for peace on the Korean Peninsula. He also mentioned that recent proposals for dialogue among relevant parties toward the official end of the Korean War could become an opportunity to seek ways to curb North Korea’s nuclear capabilities.

President Lee stressed the need for comprehensive talks to create a framework that benefits South Korea, the United States, and North Korea alike, to prevent situations where North Korea receives sanctions relief but does not freeze its nuclear program. He also emphasized the need to demonstrate to North Korea that moving toward stable and sustainable peace is a realistic and achievable path to a safe and prosperous future.

He reaffirmed his willingness to resume dialogue with North Korea. President Lee stated, "Both South Korea and the United States are open to dialogue with North Korea without preconditions," and said, "What is needed now is political decisions at the leadership level." He added, "The two leaders need to meet directly to build trust and find common ground." Regarding President Trump's decision last month to scale down the South Korea-U.S. joint military drill "Ulchi Freedom Shield," President Lee evaluated it as a deliberate move to communicate the U.S.’s non-hostile intent to North Korea.

President Lee Jae-myung greets Kang Kyung-wha, Ambassador to the United States, who came to welcome him at New York JFK International Airport on the 21st (local time). 2026.9.22 Yonhap News Photo by Yonhap News Agency

Meanwhile, President Lee's speech at the UN General Assembly on the 22nd (local time) is expected to focus on resetting the sequence of negotiations on the stagnant North Korean nuclear issue. Rather than delaying talks on the precondition of immediate complete denuclearization, President Lee proposes first blocking further advancement of North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities, and using this as a starting point for a phased approach toward reduction and dismantlement. With North Korea currently rejecting proposals for dialogue, it remains to be seen whether summit diplomacy between President Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un can be revived as part of this initiative.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.