South Korea acknowledges security guarantees are vital for North Korean nuclear disarmament

Seoul (ANTARA) - South Korean President Lee Jae-myung has stated that specific conditions must be created so that North Korea does not feel threatened, thereby reaching a point where it no longer perceives nuclear weapons as necessary. “We must create a condition where North Korea does not feel threatened… and can reach a conclusion that nuclear weapons are no longer required,” Lee said during a press conference marking one year in office on Monday.

He added that if the situation in North Korea becomes more stable and the North Korean government’s security concerns are addressed, the issue of denuclearisation can then be discussed, noting that this remains a long-term goal. As for the short-term objective, Lee stated that the priority is to at least prevent North Korea from further advancing its nuclear development.

The South Korean President remarked that while the international community must not abandon the goal of denuclearisation, it must establish short, medium, and long-term targets and engage in realistic negotiations. In the first stage, negotiations could focus on halting the production of additional nuclear materials, banning the export of such commodities, and establishing an effective moratorium. President Lee also emphasised that negotiations at that stage must focus on halting the development of ballistic missile and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) technology.