Kim Sung-han, National Security Office Chief, "North Korea's 7th Nuclear Test... Strong Response with the International Community"

Kim Sung-han, Director of the National Security Office at the Presidential Office, is answering questions from reporters after returning to Korea through Terminal 2 of Incheon International Airport on the afternoon of the 2nd, following the trilateral security chiefs meeting between Korea, the United States, and Japan held in Hawaii, USA.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Seungjin Lee] Kim Seong-han, Director of the National Security Office at the Presidential Office, stated that if North Korea conducts its 7th nuclear test, South Korea, the United States, and Japan have agreed to respond strongly in coordination with the international community.

After concluding the 'South Korea-U.S.-Japan Security Directors Meeting' in Hawaii on the 2nd and returning home, Director Kim told reporters at Incheon Airport in the afternoon, "If North Korea conducts the 7th nuclear test, it will absolutely not be '6 plus 1'."

He continued, "As I have mentioned several times, North Korea is fully prepared to conduct a nuclear test, so there was discussion on how South Korea, the U.S., and Japan, together with the international community, would respond if North Korea carries out the 7th nuclear test," adding, "We agreed to further specify such discussions going forward."

Director Kim said, "We conducted the bilateral meetings between South Korea and the U.S., South Korea and Japan, as well as the trilateral meeting among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan very intensively and effectively," and added, "Since there is a strategic consensus among the three countries, we consulted on various current issues and matters very quickly, diversely, and effectively."

Regarding the U.S. Inflation Reduction Act (IRA), Director Kim explained, "We will carefully review once again at the National Security Council (NSC) level whether there is any possibility of short-term impact on the bilateral (South Korea-U.S.) relationship and inform our side accordingly, so we expect the White House to pay considerable attention."

On the so-called 'Bold Initiative' aimed at leading North Korea to denuclearization, he said, "During the process of creating the Bold Initiative, we had very intensive consultations with Japan and the U.S., so at this trilateral meeting, the U.S. and Japan expressed their full support," adding, "We agreed that the three parties will closely cooperate to resolve the North Korean nuclear issue through dialogue."

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