South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that North Korea currently produces enough fissile material to build 10–20 nuclear weapons per year and is improving ICBM capabilities that could threaten the US and global security. He urged a pragmatic, unconditional approach to talks, suggesting a "Trump‑style" direct engagement might help resume negotiations. Lee called for suspending fissile material production, halting ICBM development and stopping overseas exports, and said he has raised these proposals with both the US and China.
North Produces Fissile Material For 10–20 Warheads A Year, South Korea Warns
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said a 'Trump-style approach' could help in dealing with North Korea (Ahn Young-joon)(Ahn Young-joon/POOL/AFP)
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung warned that North Korea is producing enough fissile material annually to build an estimated 10–20 nuclear weapons, a pace he said could become a global threat if left unchecked.
Growing Capabilities
Speaking at a New Year news conference, Lee said Pyongyang continues to refine long‑range ballistic missile technology while sustaining production of nuclear materials. "Even now, nuclear materials sufficient to produce 10 to 20 nuclear weapons a year are still being produced," he told reporters.
Lee cautioned that once North Korea secures what it considers a survivable nuclear arsenal and reliable intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) capabilities, the regime may accumulate a surplus it could transfer or sell abroad, creating wider international danger.
A Call For Pragmatism And Dialogue
Lee urged a pragmatic approach to the crisis and suggested that a direct, personal style of diplomacy — which he described as a "Trump‑style approach" — could sometimes help open channels of communication with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. "The suspension of nuclear material production and ICBM development, as well as a halt to overseas exports, would also be a gain," he said, adding that such steps would benefit all parties.
Since taking office in June, Lee has pushed for dialogue without preconditions, marking a shift from his predecessor’s more hawkish stance. He said he had raised his proposals with both US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Stalled Talks And Tensions
While Lee voiced optimism about pragmatic engagement, Pyongyang has so far rebuffed Seoul’s outreach. The article noted that Trump and Kim met multiple times during Trump’s first term but that talks stalled after their Hanoi summit collapsed over disagreements about incentives for denuclearisation.
Separately, recent tensions include North Korea’s accusation that a South Korean drone flew over the border city of Kaesong. Seoul’s presidential office denied involvement, suggesting civilians might be responsible. A man later told local media he launched a drone to measure radiation levels at a North Korean uranium processing facility.
Key Quote: "At some point, North Korea will have secured the nuclear arsenal it believes it needs to sustain the regime, along with ICBM capabilities capable of threatening not only the United States but the wider world." — Lee Jae Myung
Help us improve.
