South Korea would settle for a Trump-Kim deal to freeze nuclear programme as ’emergency measure’

[ad_1] Jean Mackenzie Seoul correspondent

Watch: South Korean president tells BBC he would settle for a Trump-Kim deal to freeze NK's nuclear programme

South Korea's president has mentioned he would conform to a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un by which North Korea agreed to freeze manufacturing of its nuclear weapons, quite than eliminate them.

Lee Jae Myung advised the BBC North Korea was producing an extra 15-20 nuclear weapons a yr and {that a} freeze - as "an interim emergency measure" - can be "a possible, life like different" to denuclearisation for now.

North Korea declared itself a nuclear energy in 2022 and vowed to by no means relinquish its weapons.

Earlier makes an attempt to get Pyongyang to surrender its arsenal have failed and since 2019 it has rejected all invites to return to talks.

"As long as we don't quit on the long-term objective of denuclearisation, I consider there are clear advantages to having North Korea cease its nuclear and missile improvement," Lee Jae Myung mentioned.

"The query is whether or not we stick with fruitless makes an attempt in direction of the last word objective [of denuclearisation] or we set extra life like targets and obtain a few of them," Lee added.

President Lee, who entered workplace in June, needs to ascertain peaceable relations with North Korea and scale back tensions, which flared underneath his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for attempting to impose martial regulation final yr.

The South Korean chief has been vocal about wanting President Trump to renew nuclear talks with Kim, which broke down in 2019 throughout Trump's first time period, after the US requested the North to dismantle its nuclear services.

Lee advised the BBC that he thought it potential the pair may come again collectively, given they "appear to have a level of mutual belief." This might profit South Korea and contribute to world peace and safety, he added.

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/ce5a/live/6d589f10-96ca-11f0-aaa5-6b36db6f2a24.jpg.webp" loading="eager" alt="BBC/ Hosu Lee President Lee Jae Myung sits in a chair in a black suit in his office in Seoul. Behind him are two flags. " class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> BBC/ Hosu Lee Lee has been vocal about wanting President Trump to restart talks with North Korea's Kim

The BBC sat down with the South Korean president at his workplace in Seoul, forward of his journey to the United Nations Common Meeting in New York on Monday.

South Korea at present holds the presidency of the UN Safety Council, however Lee wouldn't be drawn on whether or not the physique was failing South Korea, as a result of for years each China and Russia have blocked makes an attempt to impose additional sanction the North over its nuclear programme.

"Whereas it is clear the UN is falling brief in terms of creating a really peaceable world, I nonetheless consider it's performing many vital capabilities," Lee mentioned, including that reforming the Safety Council was "not very life like".

Requested whether or not China was now enabling North Korea's nuclear weapons programme, Lee mentioned it was "unimaginable to know", however based mostly on his present data this was not his understanding.

Earlier this month Chinese language President Xi Jinping welcomed Kim at a navy parade in Beijing alongside Russia's Vladimir Putin and, not like in previous conferences, China didn't publicly point out the North's nuclear weapons or denuclearisation.

The burgeoning ties between Beijing, Moscow and Pyongyang, on present at China's parade, put South Korea in "a really troublesome state of affairs", Lee mentioned.

"Seeing China, Russia and North Korea change into so shut is clearly not fascinating for us," he mentioned, including that he would seemingly reply by persevering with to work carefully with the US and Japan.

Watch: Xi, Putin, Kim and different world leaders pose for a photograph at China's navy parade

Traditionally, South Korea has balanced its relationships between the US - its navy ally - and China - which it depends on for a lot of its commerce - however this tightrope is turning into trickier to stroll.

Not too long ago Lee mentioned he would stand with the US within the new world order that's rising, however chatting with him, it's clear he needs to keep away from making enemies within the course of.

This as soon as left-leaning, hardline opposition chief now presents himself as a centrist. He chooses his phrases and positions rigorously, as he tries to deftly navigate South Korea's place in a shifting world.

"The world is dividing into two camps, and South Korea is positioned proper on the border," he mentioned, noting his nation's "actually precarious location" subsequent to China and Russia.

"This example is change into more and more troublesome. However these camps can't fully shut their doorways, so we are able to place ourselves someplace within the center."

Lee was even cautious to not discard a future relationship with Russia, which has solid a navy partnership with North Korea throughout the Ukraine warfare - sending it meals, oil and huge sums of cash in return for weapons and troops.

"It's clear that Russia's invasion of Ukraine must be condemned, and that the warfare should finish as quickly as potential," he mentioned.

"However relations between nations should not simple, and we discover methods to co-operate wherever potential and attempt to co-exist peacefully."

Learn extra of our protection <img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/4ad1/live/73b26bc0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="Getty Images US President Donald Trump (R) and South Korean President Lee Jae-myung talk to reporters before an Oval Office meeting at the White House on August 25, 2025 in Washington, DC." class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> Getty Photos Presidents Lee and Trump met on the White Home in late August

His warning is comprehensible. The perils of relying too closely on the US have by no means been extra obvious, with each America's associates and foes caught up in Trump's ongoing commerce warfare.

Lee efficiently managed to scale back tariffs on South Korea down to fifteen%, and through a latest journey to the White Home he appeared to attraction the president.

However then, a fortnight in the past, US immigration officers detained a whole lot of Korean employees who have been constructing a automotive battery manufacturing unit in Georgia – a part of South Korea's dedication to maneuver manufacturing to the US, whereas additionally investing a whole lot of billions of {dollars} there. Lee's authorities managed to safe the employees' launch per week later.

"As president, I really feel a profound sense of accountability for the tough remedy our residents endured," he mentioned, describing the incident as "surprising". Korean corporations would now seemingly be "extra hesitant to put money into the US", he added.

However Lee mentioned he believed he may use the incident to strengthen Seoul's relationship with Washington.

"There is a Korean proverb that claims, 'after the rain, the bottom hardens'."

<img sizes="(min-width: 1280px) 50vw, (min-width: 1008px) 66vw, 96vw" srcset="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/240/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 240w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/320/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 320w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 480w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/640/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 640w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/800/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 800w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1024/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 1024w,https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/1536/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp 1536w" src="https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/news/480/cpsprodpb/fbfc/live/d7122de0-953a-11f0-ad73-8b4a30771edb.jpg.webp" loading="lazy" alt="AFP via Getty Images Lee Jae-myung, the presidential candidate for South Korea's Democratic Party, sings the national anthem during his final election campaign event ahead of the upcoming June 3 presidential election in Seoul on June 2, 2025." class="sc-86c96223-0 fHZDyi"/> AFP through Getty Photos Lee received a decisive mandate in June, six months after his predecessor's failed martial regulation bid

At dwelling, Lee is presiding over a polarised nation, shaken by months of political turmoil, after its earlier president tried to orchestrate a navy takeover. Yoon, who's now going through life in jail, stoked tensions with North Korea.

He tried to justify his failed try at martial regulation by claiming the nation's establishments had been infiltrated by supporters of Pyongyang.

Now, Lee says he's attempting to do what he can to restore belief with the North. After getting into workplace, he stopped the federal government in Seoul from transmitting radio broadcasts into North Korea.

These broadcasts have been identified to anger Kim Jong Un, however have been one of many few ways in which North Korean individuals, who're more and more remoted, may obtain info from exterior the nation. The transfer was criticised by human rights organisations.

"We decide that [these broadcasts] have virtually no sensible impact," Lee mentioned when requested to justify his choice. He argued that any advantages weren't sufficient to outweigh the price of antagonising the regime.

"What issues is restoring belief between the North and South, particularly because the final authorities's stance towards North Korea was so hostile. We predict these measures will assist get North Korea to return to talks."

The North has up to now rejected Lee's goodwill gestures, calling him "delusional" and a "daydreamer".

However Lee is just not naïve. He is aware of Donald Trump is his almost definitely path to peace on the peninsula, and that this path have to be redrawn.

Desperate to painting himself as a pragmatist, he understands, not like others earlier than him, that North Korea's nuclear weapons can't be negotiated out of existence – at the least not in the intervening time.