South Korea drops 'denuclearisation-first' stance on North: minister

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SEOUL: South Korea has abandoned its long-standing ‘denuclearisation-first’ approach towards North Korea, marking a significant policy shift under President Lee Jae Myung's government.

Instead of demanding Pyongyang dismantle its nuclear programme before talks, Seoul will now focus on preventing further expansion of the North's nuclear capabilities.

Unification Minister Chung Dong-young said the government's immediate priority is to halt the growth of North Korea's nuclear programme, while maintaining denuclearisation as its long-term objective. He warned that every passing hour allows Pyongyang to continue advancing its nuclear arsenal. 

President Lee, who took office in June 2025, has also offered talks with North Korea without preconditions, although Pyongyang has yet to respond.

North Korea, which is believed to possess dozens of nuclear warheads, has repeatedly declared itself an irreversible nuclear state and recently pledged to further strengthen its nuclear forces. 

The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war because the 1950-53 conflict ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.