South Korea's president has said he would accept a deal between Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un under which North Korea would agree to freeze production of its nuclear weapons for now, rather than get rid of them.
Lee Jae Myung told the BBC of North Korea was producing an additional 15-20 nuclear weapons a year and a freeze - as an interim emergency measure - would be a feasible, realistic alternative.
North Korea declared itself a nuclear power in 2022 and vowed to never relinquish its weapons.
Previous attempts to negotiate have failed and Pyongyang has since rejected all invitations to return to talks.
So long as we do not give up on the long-term goal of denuclearisation, I believe there are clear benefits to having North Korea stop its nuclear and missile development, Lee Jae Myung said.
The question is whether we persist with fruitless attempts towards the ultimate goal [of denuclearisation] or we set more realistic goals and achieve some of them, Lee added.
President Lee, who entered office in June, wants to establish peaceful relations with North Korea and reduce tensions, which flared under his predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, who was impeached for trying to impose martial law last year.
The South Korean leader has been vocal about wanting President Trump to resume nuclear talks with Kim, which broke down in 2019 during Trump's first term, after the US asked the North to dismantle its nuclear facilities.
Lee told the BBC that he thought it possible the pair could come back together, given they seem to have a degree of mutual trust. This could benefit South Korea and contribute to global peace and security, he added.
The BBC sat down with the South Korean president at his office in Seoul, ahead of his trip to the United Nations General Assembly in New York on Monday.
South Korea currently holds the presidency of the UN Security Council, but Lee would not be drawn on whether the body was failing South Korea, because for years both China and Russia have blocked attempts to impose further sanctions on the North over its nuclear program.
While it's clear the UN is falling short when it comes to creating a truly peaceful world, I still believe it is performing many important functions, Lee said, adding that reforming the Security Council was not very realistic.
Historically, South Korea has balanced its relationships between the US - its military ally - and China - which it relies on for much of its trade - but this tightrope is becoming trickier to walk.
Recently Lee said he would stand with the US in the new world order that is emerging, but speaking to him, it is clear he wants to avoid making enemies in the process.
This once left-leaning, hardline opposition leader now presents himself as a centrist. He chooses his words and positions carefully, as he tries to deftly navigate South Korea's place in a shifting world.
Lee is focused on pushing for diplomatic strategies that can lead to long-term stability, acknowledging the current precarious geopolitical climate.
