The South Korean president has proposed that the United States ease sanctions on North Korea, hoping to open the way for trust-building before negotiating long-term nuclear disarmament, amid concerns that North Korea might be producing 10-20 nuclear warheads per year.
South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has proposed that the United States consider relaxing sanctions on North Korea in exchange for an agreement by Pyongyang to halt the development of nuclear weapons programs and intercontinental ballistic missile technology, according to the New York Times.
In an interview with the New York Times, President Lee Jae-myung said that exchanging sanctions—which he views as largely ineffective—for a halt in nuclear and missile development is critically important, adding that under the current circumstances, pushing North Korea for immediate complete denuclearization may not yield progress.
The South Korean leader proposed that achieving an agreement for North Korea to stop developing nuclear weapons first would allow for building mutual trust through reciprocal concessions and easing, ultimately leading to negotiations to reduce North Korea's nuclear arsenal.
Mr. Lee also warned that the current stalemate poses too great a risk to continue, citing South Korean assessments that North Korea may have the capacity or is actively producing 10-20 nuclear warheads annually.
He further cautioned that if North Korea believes it possesses enough nuclear weapons and missiles to guarantee its survival, it may turn to exporting these arms for revenue, which would escalate the threat to global security.
President Lee Jae-myung's policy reflects a shift from prioritizing immediate nuclear disarmament toward emphasizing peace first; he has pledged to respect North Korea's governance system and seek peaceful coexistence between the two Koreas.
However, relations between North and South Korea remain tense, with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un abandoning the policy of inter-Korean reunification, declaring South Korea its greatest enemy state, and ordering enhanced border defenses.
Meanwhile, U.S. President Donald Trump is pushing for renewed talks with Kim Jong-un, and Lee Jae-myung expressed a desire to see dialogue between the U.S. and North Korean leaders occur.
Lee Jae-myung is scheduled to present his vision for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula at the United Nations General Assembly this week.
Source:channelnewsasia
Click to read related news aboutInternational News