South Korea's President reiterates need to halt North Korea's nuclear, missile buildup
Seoul, June 8
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung stressed Monday efforts to induce North Korea to halt its expanding nuclear and missile programs as a realistic short-term goal, citing the "reality" of the regime's advancing military capabilities posing a threat to regional and global security.
In a press conference marking his first year in office, Lee noted that while the ultimate goal of denuclearising the North should remain unchanged, it would be irresponsible to disregard the reality that Pyongyang sees little incentive to relinquish its nuclear arsenal.
"North Korea continues to produce nuclear material as we speak ... What happens if we allow this to go on? There will be more nuclear weapons, and ICBM (intercontinental ballistic missile) technology will move closer to completion. It is becoming worse. That is the reality," he said.
"Let's not give up our denuclearisation goal ... (but seek) no additional production of nuclear material, no transfer of them abroad, a moratorium, a stop to the ICBM development. We have to set this as a short-term goal and negotiate (with the North)," he said.
Lee added that this would benefit both the Korean Peninsula and the international community by not leaving the situation as is.
Lee's remarks came amid growing doubts over whether North Korea's denuclearisation remains a viable solution to North Korea's advancing nuclear programs, especially with Russia and China effectively turning a blind eye to the North's nuclear issue.
The remarks also draw attention as Chinese President Xi Jinping is on a two-day state visit to Pyongyang from Monday, on a trip likely seen as intended to reassert its influence over the North.
Beijing has increasingly refrained from mentioning the North's denuclearisation on the diplomatic front, as seen in its omission in the latest white defence paper last year.
The North has bristled at moves to uphold the denuclearisation commitment by South Korea, the United States and the international community.
On Sunday, the North Korean leader's sister, Kim Yo-jong, called such efforts an "anachronistic dream" and said the North's status as a nuclear-armed state is "absolutely irreversible."
Last week, the North's leader Kim Jong-un visited a new nuclear facility and vowed to bolster the country's nuclear arsenal at an "exponential rate."
To achieve that short-term goal, it is crucial to continue efforts to resume dialogue with the North, Lee said.
"I have spoken about this to President Trump and other world leaders, that if we do nothing about this, it will get worse. That the sanctions are not working," he said. "So we need to be realistic and have talks based on short-, mid- and long-term goals."
— IANS
Reader Comments
The mention of China and Russia turning a blind eye is concerning. 😟 It feels like the international community is losing its grip on non-proliferation. India has always supported denuclearization, but we also understand strategic autonomy. Hope the dialogue resumes before things escalate further.
Honest question from an outsider: If sanctions aren't working, what's Plan B? South Korea's proposal seems like kicking the can down the road. North Korea isn't going to stop because they're asked nicely. India's own experience shows that only credible deterrence works.
Finally, some realism from Seoul! 🙏 I'm tired of the same old "denuclearization by diplomacy" rhetoric. North Korea has been a nuclear state for years now. India should take notes - when Pakistan tested nukes, we didn't waste time dreaming of denuclearization; we adapted. South Korea's approach of freezing production is pragmatic.
The problem is North Korea sees these talks as a victory. Kim Yo-jong called denuclearization an "anachronistic dream" and Kim Jong-un wants to expand the arsenal exponentially. How do you negotiate with someone who's openly contemptuous of your goals? South Korea needs to strengthen its own deterrence first.
Respectfully, I think South Korea is being too soft. 😐 North Korea has lied repeatedly - they've broken every agreement since the 1990s. Setting "short-term goals" will just give them more time to perfect ICBM technology. India learned the hard way that with hostile neighbors, you need firmness, not flexibility.