Lee Calls for Sanctions Relief in Exchange for a North Korean Nuclear Freeze at the UN General Assembly

South Korea’s liberal president, Lee Jae Myung, has shifted from a “denuclearization-first” stance to a “peace-first” approach toward Pyongyang. In recent months, North Korea has accelerated missile and nuclear tests, while the United States under President Donald Trump has scaled back joint drills with Seoul, citing a “very good relationship” with Kim Jong Un. Both Seoul and Washington have expressed willingness to re-engage Pyongyang, and Lee is using the week’s United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to outline a phased diplomatic track.

The Jerusalem PostPresident Lee: "Halt to North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development Should Be Traded for Sanctions Relief" South Korea's Lee to call for phased denuclearization of North Korea at UN South Korea’s Lee urges sanctions relief in exchange for North Korean nuclear freeze

Lee proposes a step-by-step framework: first, obtain a freeze on North Korea’s development of additional nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology; second, offer political and economic concessions for each verified reduction; and finally, pursue complete dismantlement.

South Korea’s Lee urges sanctions relief in exchange for North Korean nuclear freeze

• Lee estimates that North Korea can produce 10 to 20 additional nuclear weapons each year or may already be doing so.

Seattle Times

• President Trump has claimed that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons.

New York Times

• Unnamed experts cited in multiple reports estimate more than 100 warheads in the North’s arsenal.

Seattle Times

• In a written interview with the New York Times, Lee said easing sanctions “which are not very effective” could be exchanged for a halt to further nuclear and ICBM development, and that such a freeze would allow trust-building measures.

South Korea’s Lee urges sanctions relief in exchange for North Korean nuclear freeze

• “Exchanging sanctions against North Korea, which are not very effective, for a halt to its additional development of nuclear weapons and intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) is of considerable value.” — President Lee, south korean president

President Lee: "Halt to North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development Should Be Traded for Sanctions Relief"

• “Considering how advanced North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities have become, waiting until complete denuclearization can be achieved all at once is not a realistic solution,” — President Lee, south korean president

President Lee: "Halt to North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development Should Be Traded for Sanctions Relief"

• “That will be a truly dangerous moment.” — Donald Trump, president

The Jerusalem Post

• Trump’s assessment of 57 nuclear weapons conflicts with expert estimates of over 100 warheads. Both figures are presented as claims by the respective sources.

Seattle Times

• No public statement from the North Korean government confirms whether it would accept a sanctions-relief-for-freeze arrangement, leaving a key uncertainty in the proposal’s feasibility.

South Korea's Lee to call for phased denuclearization of North Korea at UN

• September 21 (scheduled) – Lee’s interview with the New York Times in New York, where he outlined the sanctions-for-freeze trade-off.

South Korea’s Lee urges sanctions relief in exchange for North Korean nuclear freeze

• September 22 (scheduled) – Lee is slated to deliver a keynote address at the UNGA, presenting the phased denuclearization plan.

President Lee: "Halt to North Korea's Nuclear Weapons Development Should Be Traded for Sanctions Relief"

• October 29, 2025 (scheduled) – Lee is expected to meet President Trump on the sidelines of the APEC leaders’ summit in Gyeongju, South Korea.

The Jerusalem Post

Lee’s plan will be formally presented at the UNGA, after which he hopes to convene talks among the United States, South Korea, Japan, and other stakeholders to negotiate the details of sanctions relief and verification mechanisms. The success of the proposal hinges on whether North Korea will agree to a freeze and whether the United States will follow through on easing sanctions, both of which remain contingent on forthcoming diplomatic engagements.

South Korea’s Lee urges sanctions relief in exchange for North Korean nuclear freeze