Lee to push phased North Korea denuclearization at U.N.

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said he will press for a phased, step-by-step dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program during this week's U.N. General Assembly, arguing that a single-step disarmament is no longer realistic given the North's advancing capabilities. In written responses to questions before departing Monday for New York, Lee described a sequence of "stop, reduction and dismantlement," comparing the approach to bringing a moving vehicle to a halt before changing its direction. He said waiting for complete denuclearization to be achieved at once is not realistic because North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities will continue to advance in the interim, escalating the threat. Lee said both South Korea and the United States remain open to engaging North Korea without preconditions, and he called for a political decision at the leaders' level. He urged U.S. President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un to resume face-to-face diplomacy to build trust and identify common ground.