Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has said that United States President Donald Trump appears willing to consider a phased approach to dealing with North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, raising hopes that long stalled diplomacy could return to the Korean Peninsula.
Speaking after discussions with Trump during the Group of Seven summit, Lee said the American president showed interest in a strategy that would focus first on stopping further growth of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal before pursuing broader disarmament goals. The remarks suggest that Washington may be open to a more gradual path toward addressing one of the world’s most challenging security issues.
For years, the United States and its allies have pushed for the complete denuclearization of North Korea. However, repeated rounds of talks have failed to achieve that objective, while Pyongyang has continued to expand its missile and nuclear capabilities.
Lee said a realistic approach is now needed. According to the South Korean leader, the immediate goal should be to freeze North Korea’s nuclear and missile development programs and prevent the country from increasing its stockpile of weapons. Full denuclearization would remain the long term objective, but negotiations would move forward step by step.
The comments come at a time when North Korea is believed to possess a significantly larger and more advanced nuclear arsenal than it did during previous rounds of diplomacy. Analysts say the country has improved its missile technology and strengthened its ability to deliver nuclear weapons over long distances.
Lee also noted that international sanctions have become less effective than in the past. North Korea’s growing ties with Russia, particularly since the start of the war in Ukraine, have provided Pyongyang with new political and economic opportunities. Military cooperation between the two countries has also increased, reducing the pressure that sanctions once exerted on the North Korean government.
Trump has repeatedly indicated that he remains open to direct engagement with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. During his first term in office, Trump held historic meetings with Kim in Singapore, Vietnam and the Korean Demilitarized Zone. Those meetings created global attention and briefly raised hopes of a breakthrough, but negotiations ultimately collapsed without an agreement on North Korea’s nuclear program.
The latest developments suggest both Washington and Seoul may be looking for a fresh diplomatic formula. Supporters of a phased approach argue that demanding complete denuclearization at the start of negotiations has proven unrealistic and has prevented progress. They believe that achieving smaller agreements first could help rebuild trust and reduce tensions.
However, major obstacles remain. North Korea has recently declared that it no longer considers denuclearization a topic for negotiation. Officials in Pyongyang have stated that the country’s status as a nuclear weapons state is permanent and cannot be reversed.
North Korean authorities have also criticized joint military activities between the United States and South Korea, arguing that such actions justify the continued development of their nuclear deterrent. Relations between North Korea and the West remain deeply strained despite periodic calls for dialogue.
Security experts say any future negotiations would be extremely complex. While a freeze on nuclear activities could be easier to achieve than complete disarmament, it would still require extensive verification measures and political commitments from all sides.
The issue remains a major concern for countries across Northeast Asia. South Korea and Japan continue to view North Korea’s expanding missile program as a serious security threat, while the United States remains committed to defending its regional allies.
Lee has made improving stability on the Korean Peninsula a key foreign policy priority since taking office. His administration has advocated a balanced approach that combines strong security measures with efforts to reopen communication channels with Pyongyang.
Although no formal negotiations have been announced, Lee’s comments indicate that discussions about new diplomatic options are taking place behind the scenes. Whether a phased strategy can revive dialogue remains uncertain, but the latest signals from Washington and Seoul suggest both governments are searching for practical ways to reduce tensions and prevent further escalation in the region.
For now, the prospect of renewed talks offers a rare sign of movement on an issue that has remained largely frozen for years, even as North Korea’s nuclear capabilities continue to grow and regional security concerns intensify.