South Korea ditches 'denuclearization-first' strategy. What will Pyongyang do next?
South Korea is shifting its foreign policy away from demanding immediate denuclearization of North Korea, opting instead to prioritize freezing the North's nuclear program. This change comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, including North Korea's deepening military ties with Russia and changing rhetoric from the U.S.
Why it matters
This policy pivot reflects a major recalibration of security strategy in East Asia as international pressure on Pyongyang becomes increasingly fragmented.
SEOUL, South Korea — Acknowledging what President Lee Jae Myung called a "harsh reality," South Korea is moving away from its long-held policy prioritizing the complete and immediate denuclearization of its northern neighbor.
Speaking on July 23, Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said Seoul is now aiming to first freeze North Korea's current nuclear program, offering reciprocal concessions for interim steps short of full disarmament.
Under such an approach, negotiations would focus first on halting the production and advancement of nuclear weapons, rather than demanding the dismantlement of North Korea's existing arsenal at the outset.
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