South Korean Leader Tells Trump North Korea Sanctions Are 'Ineffective'

South Korean President Lee Jae-myung disclosed to U.S. President Donald Trump that sanctions on North Korea are 'ineffective,' signaling a potential pivot in the allied approach to denuclearization. The admission reflects growing frustration with the decades-long sanctions regime that has failed to halt Pyongyang's nuclear and missile programs, and comes amid renewed diplomatic contacts between Washington and Pyongyang. The statement raises questions about whether Seoul and Washington may pursue economic engagement or a new diplomatic framework in place of maximum-pressure tactics.