{
  "id": 9074236,
  "title": "South Korea’s Lee urges US to ease North Korea sanctions",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/south-koreas-lee-urges-us-to-ease-north-korea-sanctions",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-22T02:40:06.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Malaysia Today",
    "slug": "free-malaysia-today",
    "url": "https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/world/2026/09/22/south-korea-s-lee-urges-us-to-ease-north-korea-sanctions"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called on the United States to reduce sanctions against North Korea in exchange for a commitment to freeze nuclear weapons development, according to the New York Times. The president believes that easing sanctions could be beneficial, but only if it leads to a halt in the advancement of nuclear weapons and long-range missile technology. Lee stated that pursuing denuclearisation under the current conditions would not achieve anything, as cited in an interview by the newspaper. Once a nuclear weapons freeze is achieved, trust could be established through reciprocal incentives and concessions, ultimately persuading North Korea to reduce its nuclear arsenal, according to Lee. The ongoing impasse is deemed too risky to persist, with South Korean assessments indicating that North Korea is capable of, or possibly already producing, an additional 10 to 20 nuclear weapons annually. Lee warned that once North Korea believes it has amassed enough nuclear weapons and missiles to ensure its survival, it may consider exporting them for financial gain, posing a significant threat. South Korean officials have indicated a shift away from a \"denuclearisation first\" policy towards a \"peace first\" approach towards North Korea. President Lee has pledged to respect North Korea's system and seek peaceful coexistence with Pyongyang, although relations between the two nations remain strained. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has rejected the reunification policy of Pyongyang, labeling the South as its most dangerous adversary and ordering enhanced frontline defenses. US President Donald Trump is attempting to arrange a new summit with Kim, and South Korean President Lee expressed a similar desire to see the talks materialize. Lee plans to present his vision for peace and coexistence on the Korean Peninsula to the United Nations General Assembly this week.",
  "summary": "Lee Jae Myung said sanctions on Pyongyang should be eased in exchange for an agreement under which it would freeze its nuclear weapons programme.",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 6,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Free Malaysia Today",
        "title": "South Korea’s Lee urges US to ease North Korea sanctions",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/south-koreas-lee-urges-us-to-ease-north-korea-sanctions-9077988",
        "published": "2026-09-22T02:40:06.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "The Hankyoreh",
        "title": "North or South, they root for Korea: In Japan, soccer fans cast aside ideology, division",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/north-or-south-they-root-for-korea-in-japan-soccer-fans-cast-aside",
        "published": "2026-09-22T03:47:40.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Times of India",
        "title": "South Korea proposes nuclear freeze with Kim Jong Un in exchange for sanctions relief",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/south-korea-proposes-nuclear-freeze-with-kim-jong-un-in-exchange-for",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:01:54.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "New Straits Times",
        "title": "Malaysian women gave South Korea a mighty scare before bowing out",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/malaysian-women-gave-south-korea-a-mighty-scare-before-bowing-out",
        "published": "2026-09-22T04:52:55.000Z"
      },
      {
        "outlet": "Japan Times",
        "title": "South Korea confirms first project under $350 billion U.S. investment pact despite viability concerns",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/22/south-korea-confirms-first-project-under-350-billion-u-s-investment",
        "published": "2026-09-22T06:40:00.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}