Lee pushes phased North Korea nuclear plan at UN amid missile tests

Seoul,UPDATED: Sep 22, 2026 12:40 IST

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung is set to use this week’s UN General Assembly meetings in New York to push a phased plan to address North Korea’s nuclear programme, at a time when Pyongyang is refusing talks and stepping up missile tests. Lee said the idea is to first stop further advances in the North’s nuclear and missile capabilities, then reduce its arsenal and finally move towards dismantlement, with political and economic concessions offered at each stage.

In written replies to The Associated Press before leaving for the United States on Monday, Lee said both Seoul and Washington were ready to resume engagement with North Korea. But his proposal faces a difficult path as Pyongyang has shown little interest in returning to diplomacy over weapons it sees as essential to the survival of its leadership.

Lee, who is due to address the UN General Assembly on Tuesday, said, “To change the direction of a moving vehicle, it must be brought to a halt first.” He added, “A phased approach of stopping, reduction and dismantlement is a practical way of effectively resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.”

North Korea’s expanding nuclear programme has raised doubts over whether denuclearisation can be achieved in a single step, or at all. Trump said last month that North Korea has 57 nuclear weapons, while some experts say it has more than 100 warheads. Lee said waiting for complete denuclearisation in one go was not realistic. “Given the extent to which North Korea’s nuclear and missile capabilities have advanced, it is not a realistic solution to wait until complete denuclearisation can be achieved all at once,” he said. “This is because, in the interim, North Korea’s nuclear capabilities will continue to advance, escalating the threat.”

Lee has also recently called for talks to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, saying such discussions could help explore ways to curb North Korea’s nuclear programme. Some critics fear a phased approach could allow North Korea to secure gains such as sanctions relief without giving up its weapons fully. Lee said that to avoid that, negotiators must show North Korea that “moving toward stable and lasting peace is a realistic and feasible path to a secure and prosperous future”.

Even so, there is no certainty North Korea will return to talks soon. Last month, Trump cited a “very good relationship” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un as he scaled back a major military exercise with South Korea. North Korea dismissed the move, saying cutting parts of the drill did not change its provocative nature. Since then, Pyongyang has carried out three rounds of weapons launches and repeatedly criticised what it described as US hostility. Experts say North Korea is likely seeking bigger concessions from Washington.

Lee said Trump’s move on the military exercise was “a deliberate step to send a clear message that the United States has no hostile intent toward North Korea”. He added that South Korea and the United States “remain open to engaging in dialogue with North Korea without preconditions”. Lee said, “What is needed now is a political decision at the leaders’ level. The two leaders should build trust and work together to identify a common ground, face-to-face.”

Trump’s social media post on scaling down the exercise came without prior consultation with South Korea and also referred to what he called Lee’s refusal to join the United States in the “denuclearisation” of Iran, raising concerns about the alliance. Lee said the decision came “somewhat unexpectedly”, but added that Trump had shown his commitment to creating conditions for dialogue and reducing tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He said the strategic interests of South Korea and the United States were closely linked and that he wanted to build a more mutually beneficial partnership during the rest of Trump’s term. He cited planned cooperation in shipbuilding, saying it could help revive US shipbuilding and naval power while creating new growth opportunities for South Korean businesses.

Lee also said on Friday that he would not let South Korea’s military be drawn into the Iran war, though his government was considering expanding the role of a naval unit in the Gulf of Aden to protect South Korean vessels and oil shipping routes. He was expected to meet Trump on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly. Asked about Kim’s teenage daughter, who has appeared prominently in recent months, Lee said his government had noted “her rising status” and was keeping all possibilities open, but added, “However, I believe we have to be careful about expressing a definite view at this stage.” In sum, Lee heads to the UN seeking support for a phased approach to North Korea, a revival of talks with Pyongyang, and steadier coordination with Washington.

With PTI Inputs

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