South Korea Considers Trump-Kim Nuclear Freeze as Emergency Measure

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has proposed accepting a deal brokered by President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to freeze North Korea's nuclear weapons production, rather than demanding full disarmament. Lee considers this freeze a pragmatic, interim measure to halt the ongoing production of 15 to 20 nuclear warheads per year, which North Korea has been steadily increasing since declaring itself a nuclear power in 2022. He emphasizes that while the long-term goal remains denuclearization, pursuing realistic steps like a freeze is better than insisting on an unachievable total dismantlement, especially as North Korea has refused to engage in talks since 2019. President Lee, who took office in June 2025 after his predecessor was impeached, seeks to ease tensions and restore peaceful relations with North Korea and sees the potential trust between Trump and Kim as a valuable foundation for renewed negotiations. South Korea currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council, but Lee acknowledges the challenges posed by China and Russia's resistance to harsher sanctions on Pyongyang, highlighting the complexity of regional diplomacy. This approach reflects a shift toward pragmatic diplomacy aimed at reducing immediate threats while keeping the door open for future denuclearization efforts.