South Korea’s Lee proposes ‘phased approach’ to North Korea’s nuclear disarmament

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has proposed a “phased approach” to deal with North Korea’s growing nuclear threat.

Speaking to The Associated Press, Lee has pushed for a step-by-step effort to end a decades-long standoff over the North’s nuclear program.

Lee’s plan is based on different steps. The first goal would be to stop advances in growing Pyongyang's nuclear and missile capabilities. In the next phase, its arsenal would be targeted by pushing for its rolling back, ultimately leading to dismantlement.

Lee explained, “To change the direction of a moving vehicle, it must be brought to a halt first. A phased approach of stopping, reduction and dismantlement is a practical way of effectively resolving the North Korean nuclear issue.”

At every successful step, North Korea would be offered political and economic concessions. This initiative confronts a difficult outlook, as Pyongyang remains consistently opposed to negotiating away a nuclear stockpile it considers essential for regime survival and stability.

Despite fresh overtures from the US President Donald Trump to reignite diplomatic channels, North Korea has not only responded half-heartedly but also recently intensified its missile and weapons testing activities.

The South Korean president is going to propose this approach during this week’s UN General Assembly high-stakes meetings in New York. He also emphasised on reengaging with North Korea constructively along with the US. Lee will also make a speech at the UN on Tuesday.

Estimates of North Korea's nuclear arsenal range from 57 noted by Trump, to over 100 warheads, according to some experts. Moreover, to prevent North Korea from acquiring concessions like sanctions relief without fully denuclearising and disarming, Lee believed that negotiators must demonstrate that peace is a feasible path to prosperity.

Moreover, according to Lee, both leaders Trump and Kim Jong Un should resume face-to-face diplomacy to build trust and find common grounds, noting both South Korea and US remain open to talks without preconditions.