Policies

Aug 21, 2025

▲ 이재명 대통령이 15일 서울 세종대로 광화문광장에서 열린 제21대 대통령 국민임명식에서 사진 촬영울 하고 있다.  연합뉴스

President Lee Jae Myung on Aug. 15 poses for a photo at the "people's appointment ceremony" held at Gwanghwamun Square in Seoul's Jongno-gu District. (Yonhap News)


By Lee Jihae

President Lee Jae Myung has proposed a three-phase plan for making North Korea nuclear free, saying, "The first stage is a freeze on nuclear weapons and missiles, the second is reduction and the third is denuclearization."


The Office of the President on Aug. 21 released a summary of the Q&A from his Aug. 19 interview with the Japanese daily Yomiuri Shimbun ahead of his visit to Japan from Aug. 23 to attend a bilateral summit.


He said, "While maintaining close cooperation with the U.S., the Korean government through active inter-Korean dialogue will create the conditions that lead to the freeze, reduction and dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear weapons."

This was the first time for President Lee to mention his "three-stage solution" for the North's denuclearization.


"Rather than use a confrontational policy, we need to find a path toward peaceful coexistence and mutual recognition and prosperity," he said on his administration's inter-Korean policy. "We need to take the initiative to open the door, pursue dialogue and find methods of cooperation to alleviate hostility."


"Peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula are crucial not only for the Republic of Korea but also for Northeast Asia including Japan, China and Russia," he added. "Based on the new initiative of the development of a North Pole sea route, we can pave a road of cooperation among the U.S., Russia, both Koreas and Japan."


jihlee08@korea.kr