Lee Urges US to Trade North Korea Sanctions for Nuclear Freeze
President Lee Jae Myung is pushing the U.S. to swap largely ineffective sanctions for a freeze on North Korea's nuclear expansion, aiming to halt the regime's rapid production of 10-20 warheads per year. This shift from a 'denuclearization first' to a 'peace first' strategy will be central to his keynote address at the U.N. General Assembly.
According to The Straits Times, President Lee has explicitly characterized existing sanctions as largely ineffective, arguing that easing them is a necessary trade-off to freeze Pyongyang's nuclear capabilities. He further warned that North Korea could manufacture 10 to 20 warheads annually and might eventually export them once it feels sufficiently secure.
Source: The Straits TimesChosunbiz reports that President Lee has further detailed his strategy by outlining a specific three-stage roadmap of suspension, reduction, and dismantlement, using the analogy that one must stop a moving vehicle before changing its direction. He is scheduled to expand on this phased vision in a keynote address at the upcoming U.N. General Assembly in New York.
Source: ChosunbizAccording to Chosun Ilbo, President Lee detailed in a New York Times interview that Pyongyang likely adds 10 to 20 warheads to its arsenal annually, warning that this accumulation will eventually tempt the regime to sell weapons abroad for profit.
Source: chosun.comPresident Lee Jae Myung proposes easing sanctions to halt Pyongyang's nuclear expansion, citing risks of weapon proliferation.
Source: The Straits Times
