Trump and Lee Discuss Phased North Korea Nuclear Strategy

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung and U.S. President Donald Trump held a series of meetings, including a 90-minute dinner, on the sidelines of the G7 summit in Evian, France. During these discussions, Lee informed Trump that sanctions against North Korea have become ineffective due to growing military cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow linked to the war in Ukraine.

Trump stated that the time has come to refocus on North Korea and expressed regret that the international community failed to act before the country acquired a significant nuclear arsenal. He has recently indicated openness to meeting with Kim Jong Un and described North Korea as sort of a nuclear power, deviating from traditional U.S. policy.

Lee proposed a realistic, phased strategy to address the standoff, suggesting that the short-term goal should be a freeze on nuclear and missile development to prevent further progression. He emphasized that the United States is the only party currently capable of engaging North Korea, as communication channels between the two Koreas remain severed. Trump responded that the phased approach could be a viable method and promised further consideration of the proposal.