Lee Jae Myung, Trump Discuss Step-by-Step North Korea Nuclear Strategy at G7

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung revealed that U.S. President Donald Trump was open to considering a phased approach to addressing North Korea’s nuclear threat, prioritizing an immediate halt to Pyongyang’s nuclear and missile development while maintaining denuclearization as a long-term objective.

Speaking after returning from the G7 summit in France, Lee said he discussed North Korea policy with Trump during an extended conversation on the sidelines of the gathering. According to Lee, Trump agreed that a gradual strategy could be a viable path forward and indicated he would carefully consider the proposal.

Lee emphasized that immediate efforts should focus on preventing North Korea from producing additional nuclear materials, exporting weapons-related technology, and advancing its intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities. He argued that pursuing complete denuclearization from the outset may be unrealistic given North Korea’s existing nuclear arsenal and ongoing weapons development.

The South Korean leader noted that Pyongyang is believed to be producing enough nuclear material annually to create between 10 and 20 nuclear weapons. He also warned that North Korea’s ICBM technology is nearing completion, including critical re-entry capabilities. In addition, Lee pointed to growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia during the Ukraine conflict, saying it has weakened the effectiveness of international sanctions.

The discussion comes years after Trump’s historic meetings with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. While Trump and Kim held unprecedented summits during Trump’s first presidency, negotiations stalled following the failed 2019 Hanoi summit due to disagreements over sanctions relief and denuclearization measures. Since then, North Korea has declared its nuclear weapons program irreversible.

Beyond security issues, Lee said Trump raised the topic of shipbuilding and asked whether South Korea could rapidly construct 10 U.S. warships. Lee responded positively, highlighting Seoul’s commitment to strengthening cooperation through a recently agreed $150 billion shipbuilding investment package in the United States led by South Korean firms.

Lee described his roughly 90-minute conversation with Trump at a G7 dinner as more productive than a formal summit, allowing for extensive discussions on regional security and economic cooperation. During his European tour, Lee also met with leaders from Germany, Italy, and Canada.

Separately, Lee disclosed that he invited Pope Leo to consider visiting the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating North and South Korea and potentially North Korea itself. According to Lee, the pontiff expressed interest and said he would actively explore the possibility.