South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung has announced that his country would accept a deal brokered between former U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to freeze North Korea’s nuclear weapons program, viewing it as a pragmatic interim step toward the long-term goal of denuclearization. Speaking to the BBC in September 2025, President Lee described this freeze as an “emergency measure” to halt the ongoing production of nuclear weapons by North Korea, which he said currently manufactures an additional 15 to 20 nuclear warheads annually.

The president emphasized that while the complete dismantling of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal remains the ultimate objective, years of failed negotiations have demonstrated the difficulty of immediate disarmament. “So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearisation, there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development,” Lee stated. He highlighted that previous strategies demanding full denuclearization have not yielded progress, so aiming for more achievable steps like a freeze could stabilize the situation and reduce tensions on the Korean Peninsula.

The backdrop to this announcement is North Korea’s self-declaration as a nuclear power since 2022, and its firm stance on never relinquishing its nuclear weapons. Diplomatic talks, including those during Trump’s earlier engagement with Kim which collapsed in 2019, have so far failed to produce lasting commitments. President Lee, who took office in June 2025, is seeking to reset relations with Pyongyang that had sharply deteriorated under his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, whose confrontational policies and attempted imposition of martial law sparked domestic controversy.

Lee’s approach includes removing provocative actions such as loudspeaker broadcasts across the border and advocating for diplomatic engagement that includes South Korea, the U.S., and Japan. His three-step denuclearization plan envisions starting with a freeze, followed by the reduction of North Korea’s nuclear arsenal, and ultimately complete denuclearization. The president also underscored the potential for mutual prosperity if the Koreas recognize and respect each other’s sovereignty.

Experts remain cautious about North Korea’s willingness to negotiate in good faith, given its recent statements reaffirming its nuclear status and ongoing military drills framed as defensive responses to U.S.-South Korean exercises. Kim Jong Un has declared his commitment to “strengthening nuclear power” as long as nuclear weapons exist elsewhere, suggesting that denuclearization remains a distant prospect.

Public opinion in South Korea is mixed, with some apprehension about easing pressure on Pyongyang after years of hostility. However, President Lee has maintained that pragmatic, stepwise diplomacy is preferable to stalemate and escalation. He also expressed hope that renewed engagement between Trump and Kim could restart meaningful dialogue.

As this story develops, the key next steps involve international coordination among Seoul, Washington, and Tokyo to support the freeze deal and encourage North Korea’s participation in talks. Monitoring North Korea’s compliance and balancing pressure with incentives will be crucial to prevent further nuclear advancements and to promote stability in the region.

In summary, South Korea’s acceptance of a Trump-Kim deal to freeze the nuclear program reflects a strategic shift toward realism and engagement, with an emphasis on incremental progress amid complex geopolitical tensions. The coming months will reveal whether this approach can break the deadlock and pave the way to peace and denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula.