President Lee stresses phased approach to North Korean denuclearization

President Lee Jae Myung said Monday he supports North Korea’s denuclearization in the long term, but that a phased approach that engages in dialogue with PyongyaBng is more realistic.

"In the long term, we must certainly move toward denuclearization," Lee said during a press conference marking his first anniversary in office held at the Blue House in central Seoul. "But realistically, we must engage in actual dialogue with short-, medium- and long-term goals in mind."

The remarks came as Chinese President Xi Jinping began a two-day state visit to Pyongyang on Monday, the first such trip in nearly seven years, for a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

He described the move as a moratorium negotiation of sorts as he proposed a phased approach to suspend the production of nuclear materials and missile development for a certain period before North Korea's complete denuclearization.

Lee called on short-term goals to negotiate with the North — halting additional production of nuclear materials, imposing a moratorium on the export of nuclear materials and halting the development of intercontinental ballistic missile [ICBM] technology."

"To say that this means abandoning denuclearization is neglecting the reality and creating a worse situation, and I consider that irresponsible," he said. "I have conveyed this message to [U.S.] President Donald Trump several times."

North Korea is producing enough nuclear materials to build up to 20 nuclear weapons per year, Lee warned, while its development of intercontinental nuclear missiles (ICBM) is nearing completion.

“Even at this very moment, North Korea is producing nuclear material capable of making 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually,” Lee said.

He added that North Korea’s ballistic missile and ICBM technology is “assessed to have reached its final stage based on ongoing performance calculations.”

However, despite the delicate security situation on the Korean Peninsula, Lee stressed Seoul has no intentions for nuclear armament, calling the notion a “truly irresponsible” act.

“We can’t arm ourselves with nuclear weapons,” Lee said. “If we did, would Japan and Taiwan just sit idly by? The entire region would arm itself with nuclear weapons."

He noted that South Korea has “a high degree of external dependence, so we cannot survive if sanctions are imposed.”

“If North Korea's nuclear weapons or ballistic missile technology exceeds the scope necessary for regime preservation and maintenance, they will export it," Lee said, adding that preventing such a possibility “in itself is in the interest of the international community.”

Lee blamed the previous Yoon Suk Yeol administration for the deterioration in inter-Korean relations and the escalation of tensions.

Lee further noted the precarious nature of international sanctions on North Korea, noting possible loopholes. “The door to Russia is definitely open,” Lee said, referring to Moscow and Pyongyang’s close ties.

"Therefore, no matter how much pressure is applied, it all slips through,” Lee said, calling it a "regrettable reality."

"While we can’t abandon the pursuit of peaceful unification, discussing unification in the current state would only worsen relations; therefore, we must first proceed on a path of communication, dialogue, respect and coexistence," Lee said.

Lee also stressed that South Korea envisions becoming a global power in diplomacy and security as one of the goals for his second year in office.

“Building on the ironclad Republic of Korea–U.S. alliance, a strong, self-reliant national defense posture and pragmatic, national interest-focused diplomacy, we will strengthen our standing and role as a responsible global power,” Lee said in his opening remarks.

When asked by a Japanese reporter about his position on concluding a bilateral military logistics support pact between South Korea and Japan, Lee said that while such a measure might be necessary, "it would be difficult to accept at present, given public sentiment.”

His remarks indicated that it was too early to institutionalize cooperation in logistics support between Seoul and Tokyo with an acquisition and cross-servicing agreement (ACSA), given that South Korean public sentiment still places great importance on Japan’s attitude regarding historical issues stemming from its 1910-45 colonial rule.

“From Tokyo’s perspective, they may want to actively strengthen military cooperation with South Korea and the United States, or just with South Korea; however, as the security landscape in Northeast Asia is currently progressing in a very confrontational manner, there are aspects that we must be cautious about,” Lee said.

Lee disclosed parts of a private conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi during their summit last month in Andong, North Gyeongsang, regarding the subject.

“In my view, there is a practical necessity,” Lee said regarding a logistics support agreement, but added that if he suggested it to the South Korean people, the public would “scold him.” Lee said he asked Takaichi to “understand our position.”

Lee used an analogy to emphasize the need for a “sincere apology” from Japan by likening the historical issues between Korea and Japan at the time to a "fistfight” where one party was punched in the eye and unable to work.

"Wouldn't we become true friends only if they said, 'I'm sorry for hitting you before — I won't hit you again,’” Lee said. “This is not just my opinion, but the sentiment deep within the Korean people."

Continuing the analogy, Lee added that South Korea is not demanding that the offending party “pay back all the past medical expenses or lost earnings,” stressing that the issue is not about money but about sentiment over several historical issues, including wartime forced labor.

Lee was also asked about his tough remarks about Israel after two South Korean nationals were captured by the Israeli military while heading for the Gaza Strip aboard humanitarian aid vessels. Lee had said Israel may have violated relevant international regulations. The two South Koreans were released shortly afterward.

"As the head of state of South Korea, I initially intended not to speak, but I felt that they [the Israelis] were going too far,” Lee said. “There were acts of human rights violations against our citizens, weren't there?”

Regarding the attack last month on the HMM Namu, a cargo ship operated by South Korean shipping company HMM, Lee said the vessel "was struck by an object presumed to be a missile of Iranian origin," but added that it was "certain that it wasn’t done intentionally."

Lee said that although Iran has denied its involvement, Korea’s investigation team determined it was an Iranian missile and the Korean government “lodged a stern protest and demanded measures to prevent a recurrence."

BY SARAH KIM [[email protected]]