South Korea's Lee says Trump wants renewed focus on North Korea
by Thomas Maresca · UPISEOUL. June 19 (UPI) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Friday that U.S. President Donald Trump signaled renewed interest in addressing North Korea's nuclear program during talks at the Group of Seven summit this week, saying it was time to turn attention back to the issue and expressing regret that stronger action had not been taken earlier.
Lee recounted the discussion during a press conference in Seoul reviewing his trip to Europe and the G7 summit in France, where he spoke with Trump on several occasions.
"President Trump said it was time to pay attention to the North Korea issue again," Lee said.
On Saturday, Trump posted an uncaptioned photograph from his 2018 summit with leader Kim Jong Un in Singapore on his Truth Social platform shortly after announcing a deal with Iran. The move fueled speculation about renewed interest in North Korea diplomacy.
Lee noted that Trump brought up the post during their conversation, saying he had uploaded the photograph himself.
Trump met Kim three times during his first term, including summits in Singapore and Hanoi and a brief meeting at the Demilitarized Zone in 2019. Since returning to office, he has repeatedly said he would be open to meeting the North Korean leader again.
According to Lee, Trump lamented that the international community had failed to take effective measures before North Korea acquired a significant nuclear arsenal.
Lee said North Korea's nuclear program could no longer be approached in the same way as those of other countries and required a more realistic, phased strategy.
"I explained that a one-time solution is impossible and that we need to divide the goals into stages," he said.
The South Korean president said he proposed a freeze on North Korea's nuclear and missile development, including halting additional production of nuclear materials, preventing their transfer abroad and stopping further advances in intercontinental ballistic missile technology.
"The short-term goal is to stop that situation from progressing any further," Lee said. "Don't give up on denuclearization, but let's go step by step in the short, medium and long term."
Trump replied that the proposal "could be one way" to approach the issue and said he would give it further consideration, according to Lee.
Lee added that sanctions had failed to halt Pyongyang's nuclear development and that changing geopolitical circumstances, including North Korea's growing military cooperation with Russia, had reduced their effectiveness.
"The reality is that pressure has not solved the problem," Lee said.
He also acknowledged that inter-Korean relations remain frozen, saying all communication channels between Seoul and Pyongyang have been severed and that North Korea continues to define South Korea as a hostile foreign state.
Nevertheless, Lee said his government would continue trying to create conditions for renewed dialogue while encouraging Washington to play a leading role.
The president's European trip included visits to Belgium, Italy and the Vatican, along with participation in the G7 summit.
At the Vatican, Lee said he invited Pope Leo XIV to visit the Korean Peninsula, including the DMZ and, if possible, North Korea. The pope said he would actively consider the proposal, according to Lee.
Reflecting on the trip, Lee said he was struck by South Korea's growing international profile.
"Without us even realizing it, our national power and international stature have risen to a remarkable degree," he said. "We must take on greater responsibility and a larger role for peace, prosperity, solidarity and cooperation in the international community."