President Yoon on North Korea's successive provocations: "Nothing can be gained from nuclear weapons"

Building a Robust Response System Based on a Strong ROK-US Alliance and ROK-US-Japan Security Cooperation
Regarding Concerns Over ROK-Japan Military Cooperation: "What Concerns Are Justified in the Face of Nuclear Threats?"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol warned on the 11th about North Korea's successive missile launches and other provocations, stating, "There is nothing to be gained through nuclear weapons."

On his way to the Yongsan Presidential Office that morning, when a reporter asked President Yoon whether he still believes that the South Korean government's North Korea policy, such as the trilateral military security cooperation between South Korea, the U.S., and Japan and the Bold Initiative, remains effective in leading North Korea to safe denuclearization, he replied, "I think it is effective."

He continued, "Denuclearization of North Korea has been pursued for 30 years, since the early 1990s, when we also withdrew tactical nuclear weapons and aimed for denuclearization of the entire Korean Peninsula. North Korea is now steadily developing and advancing its nuclear capabilities, threatening not only the Republic of Korea but the entire world with nuclear weapons," pointing out that there is nothing North Korea can gain from nuclear weapons.

President Yoon also said, "As I have repeatedly emphasized, we will build a robust response system based on a strong ROK-U.S. alliance and ROK-U.S.-Japan security cooperation to prepare and respond well," adding, "I ask the people not to worry too much and to focus on economic activities and their livelihoods."

Regarding concerns among the public about military cooperation between South Korea and Japan, he retorted, "What concerns can be justified in the face of a nuclear threat?" When the press mentioned again that "the opposition party is attacking the ROK-U.S.-Japan military security cooperation as pro-Japanese defense and saying that the Rising Sun flag could be raised on the Korean Peninsula," he responded, "I believe the wise people will make a good judgment."

On opinions emerging that South Korea should redeploy tactical nuclear weapons in preparation for North Korea's tactical nuclear weapons, he said, "As president, this is not a matter where I can publicly express a position saying 'this' or 'that,'" and added, "We are listening to and considering various opinions from both South Korea and the United States."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.