President Lee proposes negotiations to halt additional production as a short-term goal for North Korea's nuclear issue

At his firstyear press conference, President Lee Jaemyung said that, regarding the North Korean nuclear issue, South Korea should negotiate with North Korea in the short term with goals such as halting additional production of nuclear materials, preventing the export of nuclear materials overseas, and stopping the development of ballistic missile technology. At the press conference held on the 8th at the Blue House guesthouse, President Lee said that while he would not abandon the ultimate goal of denuclearization, a realistic, stepbystep approach is needed. He mentioned that North Korea is still producing nuclear materials and explained that simply stopping the current status would be beneficial to the Korean Peninsula and the international community. He also said that the KoreaJapan Reciprocal Military Logistics Support Agreement is difficult to accept in light of public sentiment. Regarding calls for nuclear armament, President Lee pointed out that considering international sanctions and diplomatic burdens, it is an irresponsible idea.