South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he will emphasize the need for a practical, step-by-step approach to denuclearizing North Korea at this week's UN General Assembly, saying both Seoul and Washington remain willing to resume dialogue with Pyongyang.
"To change the direction of a moving vehicle, it must be brought to a halt first," Lee said in written responses to questions from The Associated Press before leaving for New York on Monday.
"A phased approach of stop, reduction and dismantlement is a practical way of effectively resolving the North Korean nuclear issue," he said.
Lee's proposal comes as North Korea is stepping up weapons testing despite US President Donald Trump's decision to scale back a major military exercise with South Korea in what was seen as a conciliatory gesture toward North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, who has viewed such drills as rehearsals for invasion.
Lee advocates phased denuclearization
North Korea's expanding nuclear program has raised questions over whether denuclearization can be achieved in a single step and prompted calls for a phased process under which Pyongyang would receive corresponding economic and political benefits.
Trump said last month that North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, while some experts estimate that the country has more than 100 warheads.
"Given the extent to which North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities have advanced, it is not a realistic solution to wait until complete denuclearization can be achieved all at once," Lee said.
"This is because, in the interim, North Korea's nuclear capabilities will continue to advance, escalating the threat," he said.
During the annual UN gathering, Lee said he would pursue "a phased and pragmatic solution to the North Korean nuclear issue" and build on his vision of promoting peace on the Korean Peninsula.
He pointed to his recent proposal for talks among the countries concerned to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War, saying such discussions could also provide an opportunity to explore ways to restrain North Korea's nuclear program.
However, there are concerns that a phased approach could ultimately allow North Korea to refuse to completely abandon its nuclear arsenal after securing concessions such as sanctions relief in exchange for partially reducing its capabilities.
To guard against such an outcome, Lee called for comprehensive dialogue to establish a framework that benefits South Korea, the United States and North Korea.
He also stressed the importance of convincing North Korea that "moving toward stable and lasting peace is a realistic and feasible path to a secure and prosperous future."
Seoul, Washington seek resumption of talks
Despite the approaches being considered by the United States, South Korea and their partners, it remains uncertain whether North Korea will return to negotiations anytime soon.
When Trump last month scaled back the annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercise with South Korea, citing his "very good relationship" with Kim, North Korea rejected the gesture, saying that reducing the drills would not change what it considers their provocative nature.
Since then, North Korea has conducted three rounds of weapons launches and issued numerous statements criticizing what it described as US hostility. Experts say Pyongyang is likely seeking larger concessions from Washington.
Lee, who hopes renewed Trump-Kim diplomacy could also lead to the reopening of inter-Korean dialogue, described Trump's decision as "a deliberate step to send a clear message that the United States has no hostile intent toward North Korea."
He said both South Korea and the United States "remain open to engaging in dialogue with North Korea without preconditions."
"What is needed now is a political decision at the leaders' level. The two leaders should build trust and work together to identify a common ground, face-to-face," Lee said.
Lee seeks stronger US ties
Trump's announcement on social media about reducing the military exercise came without prior consultations with South Korea and referred to what he called Lee's refusal to join the United States in the "denuclearization" of Iran.
The move raised concerns about the strength of the South Korea-US alliance.
Lee acknowledged that Trump's decision came "somewhat unexpectedly." However, he said he preferred to focus on the ultimate objective behind it, noting that Trump had expressed his commitment to creating conditions for dialogue and that he shared the goal of reducing confrontation on the Korean Peninsula.
Lee said the strategic interests of South Korea and the United States are closely linked across a wide range of areas and that he plans to build a more mutually beneficial partnership during the remainder of Trump's term.
As an example, he pointed to planned cooperation in shipbuilding, saying it would not only help revive US shipbuilding and strengthen its naval capabilities but also create new growth opportunities for South Korean companies.
Lee said Friday that he would not allow South Korea's military to become involved in the US-Iran conflict.
He said his government was considering expanding the operations of a South Korean naval unit deployed in the Gulf of Aden to protect South Korean vessels and oil shipping routes.
Lee was expected to meet Trump on the sidelines of the UN gathering.
Lee calls for UN reforms
Lee said the UN-centered multilateral system faces serious challenges, including growing geopolitical conflicts.
He said the current multilateral system has failed to keep pace with common challenges such as the climate crisis and the unintended consequences of the AI revolution.
Calling for reforms at the UN, Lee said duplication and inefficiency across the organization must be addressed.
He also said greater authority should be given to personnel working in the field so that crises can be addressed more quickly and effectively.
During the UN General Assembly, Lee said he would also present South Korea's efforts to ensure that more people benefit from advances in artificial intelligence and urge other countries to join the initiative.
Lee cautious on Kim's daughter
Asked about the prominent teenage daughter of 42-year-old North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Lee said his government has taken note of "her rising status" and is keeping all possibilities open regarding her future role.
"However, I believe we have to be careful about expressing a definite view at this stage," Lee said.
Lee's comments differ from repeated assessments by South Korea's intelligence agency, which has described Kim's daughter as his likely successor.
Some experts have challenged that assessment, pointing to North Korea's male-dominated power structure.