South Korean President Lee Jae Myung requested NATO’s support in stopping North Korea’s pursuit of nuclear and missile development during the organization’s summit in Turkey, according to a statement from the presidential Blue House on Tuesday.

Speaking to NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on the sidelines of the summit, Lee said that “breaking the deadlock on the Korean Peninsula requires maintaining the ultimate goal of denuclearization,” according to the Blue House’s statement.

Lee identified short-term goals for such efforts, namely stopping Pyongyang’s pursuit of nuclear and missile weapons.

Rutte expressed hope for continued consultations with Lee and said he would