[Editorial] The goal of a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula must not be abandoned

The United States and North Korea are engaged in a delicate dance to resume dialogue, with South Korea playing a crucial role in ensuring its position is accommodated. After President Donald Trump claimed North Korea possesses 57 nuclear weapons, he seemingly avoided addressing whether denuclearization was the goal of his potential talks with Pyongyang's leader, Kim Jong-un.

This suggests Trump is willing to accept North Korea's current nuclear arsenal in exchange for a meeting, demonstrating a realist approach. The South Korean government, on the other hand, maintains that while the initial goal is to freeze North Korea's nuclear capabilities, the ultimate aim remains a nuclear-free Korean Peninsula.

The administration has officially committed to "complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula" and "denuclearizing North Korea," but Trump has begun referring to North Korea as a nuclear power since his first day in office. South Korea must leverage its diplomatic resources to advocate for its position in Washington's efforts to reestablish dialogue with Pyongyang.