Lee Jae Myung to Push Phased North Korea Denuclearization at UN

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung will use this week's United Nations General Assembly to press for a phased, practical approach to dismantling North Korea's nuclear program, arguing that waiting for a single, comprehensive deal is no longer realistic.

In written remarks before departing for New York on Monday, Lee described a sequence of "stop, reduction and dismantlement" as the most effective way to address the issue. He compared the situation to redirecting a moving vehicle, saying it must first be brought to a halt.

Lee said the advanced state of North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities means an all-at-once solution would allow Pyongyang to keep building its arsenal while talks dragged on, heightening the threat. He pointed to his recent proposal for talks among the concerned parties to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, suggesting that such a process could open ways to curb the nuclear program.

Critics warn that a phased deal could let North Korea extract concessions such as sanctions relief for only a partial surrender of its capabilities, then refuse to fully disarm. Lee said comprehensive dialogue should produce a framework benefiting South Korea, the United States and North Korea alike, and that Pyongyang must be shown that lasting peace is a realistic route to security and prosperity.

His push comes as North Korea has accelerated weapons testing, even after U.S. President Donald Trump scaled back a major joint military exercise with South Korea as a conciliatory gesture toward leader Kim Jong Un. Pyongyang dismissed the move, saying trimming the drill does not change its provocative character, and has since conducted three rounds of weapons launches along with statements criticizing U.S. hostility. Experts say North Korea likely wants larger concessions.

Estimates of the North's arsenal vary widely, with Trump claiming last month that it holds 57 nuclear weapons while some experts put the figure above 100.

Lee called Trump's decision to downsize the Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise a deliberate signal that Washington has no hostile intent toward the North, and said both Seoul and Washington remain open to dialogue without preconditions. He said a political decision at the leaders' level is needed, with the two leaders building trust face-to-face.

The U.S. announcement, made without prior consultation with Seoul, also referenced what Trump described as Lee's refusal to join the U.S. in denuclearizing Iran, raising concerns about the alliance. Lee acknowledged the decision came somewhat unexpectedly but said he prefers to focus on its objective, adding that the two countries' strategic interests are deeply intertwined and that he aims to build a more mutually beneficial partnership, including through shipbuilding cooperation.

Lee also said he would not let South Korea's military be drawn into the U.S.-Iran conflict, and that his government is considering expanding the operations of a naval unit in the Gulf of Aden protecting South Korean vessels and oil routes. He was expected to meet Trump on the sidelines of the UN gathering.

On the multilateral front, Lee said the UN-centered system faces serious challenges and is failing to keep pace with issues such as the climate crisis and the unintended consequences of the AI revolution. He called for reforms to address redundancy and inefficiency and for greater authority for those working in the field. He said he would also present South Korea's push for more people to benefit from AI advances.

Asked about the teenage daughter of the 42-year-old Kim Jong Un, Lee said his government has noted her rising status and is keeping all possibilities open, but that a definite view at this stage would be premature. His caution contrasts with repeated assessments by South Korea's spy agency describing her as Kim's likely heir, a view some experts dispute given the North's male-dominated power hierarchy.