South Korea’s Lee urges nuclear freeze, sanctions relief for North Korea
South Korea’s Lee urges U.S. sanctions relief for North Korea in exchange for a nuclear and ICBM freeze, proposing phased denuclearisation: freeze, reduce, dismantle.
Email: online@newsofbahrain.com
Seoul: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has urged the US to consider lifting sanctions against North Korea in exchange for Pyongyang suspending nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile development.
Lee warned that pursuing total denuclearization right away could lead to an impasse in negotiations. Instead, he recommended a step-by-step approach of freezing, reducing, and finally dismantling North Korea's nuclear capability, with reciprocal incentives and concessions to develop trust.
According to Lee, South Korean estimates show that North Korea is capable of creating 10-20 more nuclear weapons every year. He cautioned that a rising arsenal could increase the risk of nuclear weapons being exported for financial benefit.
The notion comes as South Korea, the United States, and Japan continue to openly support total denuclearization while simultaneously asking for new talks with Pyongyang.
