South Korea’s president has said he is open to a possible deal between former US President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The deal would not require North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons but instead freeze further production.
President Lee Jae Myung told the BBC that North Korea is producing an estimated 15–20 nuclear weapons every year. He explained that while full denuclearisation remains the long-term goal, a freeze would be a more “realistic and feasible” step at the moment.
North Korea declared itself a nuclear state in 2022 and has repeatedly said it will never give up its weapons. This makes talks on disarmament highly difficult. President Lee said a freeze on production could serve as “an interim emergency measure” to slow down North Korea’s growing arsenal.
The South Korean leader also noted that such a deal could help ease tensions in the region. For years, the Korean Peninsula has remained one of the most unstable flashpoints in global security. By supporting a Trump-Kim nuclear freeze deal, Lee suggested that diplomacy might succeed where pressure alone has failed.
Donald Trump met Kim Jong Un three times during his presidency, including a historic meeting in the Demilitarised Zone. While no lasting agreement was reached, Trump has claimed he kept tensions with North Korea under control. If Trump were to return to the White House, discussions about a freeze deal might resurface. For South Korea, Lee made clear that his government would be willing to consider such an arrangement if it meant reducing immediate risks.
Experts warn that North Korea’s nuclear expansion is a serious threat to Asia and beyond. Each year, the regime adds more weapons and improves its missile systems. A freeze, though short of full denuclearisation, could at least stop the arsenal from expanding further.
The debate over how to manage North Korea’s weapons programme comes as other conflicts also dominate global headlines. For example, tensions in the Middle East remain high, with incidents like the Israeli drone strike in Lebanon showing how regional conflicts quickly escalate.
South Korea’s willingness to accept a Trump-Kim nuclear freeze deal shows a shift toward more pragmatic diplomacy. Instead of focusing only on complete disarmament, Seoul is considering steps that may reduce risks in the short term. Whether North Korea would agree to stop producing new weapons is still unclear. But for now, South Korea’s president has signaled that a freeze might be the best possible path toward stability.
