Lee-Trump talks fuel hopes for renewed US-North Korea dialogue

Hopes for a revival of US-North Korea dialogue have resurfaced following discussions between South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and US President Donald Trump. At a Group of Seven summit dinner on June 16, Trump indicated a renewed focus on North Korea, telling Lee, "It’s time to pay attention to the North Korean issue" and expressing a desire to talk with leader Kim Jong-un.

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It’s time to pay attention to the North Korean issue.

President Lee shared his proposal for a phased approach to denuclearization, suggesting a strategy that separates short-term and long-term objectives. "I told Trump that we shouldn’t approach the North Korean nuclear issue in the same way we do other countries anymore," Lee stated. His plan involves halting further nuclear material production, reducing stockpiles after stabilization, and then moving toward denuclearization once trust and regime security are guaranteed.

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I told Trump that we shouldn’t approach the North Korean nuclear issue in the same way we do other countries anymore.

Some experts believe this engagement could offer Trump a diplomatic achievement, especially after the inconclusive resolution of the war in Iran. Lee Woo-tae, a senior research fellow at the Korea Institute for National Unification, noted, "In an environment where he can’t wrap up the war with Iran with a definitive victory, President Trump needs a diplomatic achievement in the form of dialogue with Kim Jong-un." However, opinions remain divided. North Korea's demand to be recognized as a nuclear-weapons state complicates negotiations, and Kim Yo-jong, Kim Jong-un's sister, has reiterated that denuclearization is a "line of no retreat."

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I proposed a phased approach that differentiates short- and long-term goals: first, halt further production of nuclear materials, reduce stockpiles after the situation stabilizes, and then move toward denuclearization after trust is built and regime security is guaranteed.