These words were made by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol just days after he had previously called for “war preparedness” with an “overwhelming” capability.
After North Korean leader Kim Jong Un referred to the South as the country’s “undoubted enemy” in the context of escalating cross-border tensions, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated that his country is in talks with the United States regarding the possibility of conducting joint exercises using nuclear assets owned by the United States.
Following a year that was highlighted by the North conducting a record number of missile launches and the incursion of North Korean drones into the South last week, Yoon has made these comments just a few days after he called for “war preparedness” with an “overwhelming” capability.
“The nuclear weapons belong to the United States,” Yoon stated in an interview with the Chosun Ilbo newspaper that was published on Monday. “However, South Korea and the United States should jointly conduct planning, information sharing, exercises, and training,” Yoon said.
According to what Yoon was reported as saying by the newspaper, the combined planning and drills would be targeted at a more effective implementation of the United States’ “extended deterrence.” Yoon also stated that Washington was “very pleased” about the proposal.
When questioned about Yoon’s remarks, a representative for the Pentagon responded, “We have nothing to say today,” and added that the alliance continues to be “rock-solid.”
Yoon’s statements also come a day after North Korean state media reported that its leader Kim called for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and an “exponential increase” of the country’s nuclear arsenal. Yoon’s remarks come just a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un called for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles.
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Last week, at a meeting of the governing Workers’ Party, Kim claimed that South Korea has now become the “undoubted enemy” of the North. He also rolled out new military goals, which hint at another year of intense weapons testing and conflict.
Relations between the two Koreas have been tense for a long time, but they have been even more tense since Yoon took office in May and promised a stronger stance on the North Korean adversary.
After launching three ballistic missiles on Saturday, North Korea conducted an unusual late-night, New Year’s Day weapons test by launching a short-range ballistic missile off its east coast on Sunday. This came after North Korea launched three ballistic missiles on Saturday.
According to the official news agency of the North Korean government, KCNA, the projectiles were launched from the North’s super-large multiple rocket launcher system. Kim Jong Un has stated that this system “has South Korea as a whole within the range of a strike and is capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.”
The North’s haste to progress its nuclear and missile programs has reignited debate regarding South Korea’s own nuclear arms; nonetheless, Yoon stated in the interview with Chosun Ilbo that it was still vital to uphold the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons.
The most recent example of Yoon’s harsh stance against North Korea is the comment he made about the recent nuclear exercises.
He has asserted that it is necessary for South Korea to exact punishment and retaliation against any provocation by North Korea, describing this as the most effective way to prevent any more provocations.
According to Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, “this year could be a year of crisis with military tension on the Korean peninsula going beyond what it was like in 2017.” Min was referring to the days of “fire and fury” under the Trump administration. “This year could be a year of crisis with military tension on the Korean peninsula going beyond what it was like in 2017,”
“We cannot rule out what is similar to a regional conflict when the two sides have a misunderstanding of the situation,” Hong said. “North Korea’s hardline stance… and aggressive weapons development, when met with South Korea-U.S. joint exercises and a proportional response, could raise the tension in a flash.”