In an interview with Japan's Yomiuri Shimbun ahead of his visit to Tokyo for summit talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Lee said he will seek to freeze North Korea's nuclear and missile programs in the first stage.
In the second and final stage, Lee said he will seek to reduce and dismantle North Korea's nuclear program, according to a script of the interview provided by the presidential office.
South Korea, while maintaining close coordination with the U.S., will actively pursue inter-Korean dialogue to establish conditions for the goal, Lee told the Japanese newspaper.
