Yoon: "If North Korea Uses Nuclear Forces, South Korea and the US Will Respond Using All Available Means"

President Yoon Hosts 'Unification Dialogue' with Overseas Advisory Members of the National Unification Advisory Council

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 29th, "If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, South Korea and the United States will respond by utilizing all available means."

President Yoon made these remarks while attending the 20th Overseas Regional Meeting of the National Unification Advisory Council (NUAC) held at the Grand Walkerhill Seoul in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul, where he presided over a "Unification Dialogue" with overseas advisory members.

President Yoon pointed out, "The ballistic missiles that North Korea tests are means to transport nuclear weapons," adding, "North Korea continues to conduct nuclear attack drills not only against South Korea but also against the United States and Japan through various missile launches."

Regarding this, President Yoon emphasized, "The government will firmly respond with a resolute security posture, unwavering against any provocations from North Korea."

He also stated, "On November 13th in Cambodia, President Biden, Prime Minister Kishida, and I agreed to further strengthen extended deterrence and expand security cooperation among South Korea, the United States, and Japan," adding, "We will thoroughly implement UN Security Council resolutions and closely cooperate with the international community to ensure that North Korea’s reckless provocations will never succeed."

Furthermore, he explained that the Yoon administration plans to induce North Korea’s denuclearization through the Korean Peninsula peace roadmap called the "Bold Initiative." President Yoon said, "We will create conditions and an environment for North Korea to come out with reform and opening," and mentioned, "If North Korea begins denuclearization measures, even before achieving complete denuclearization, we will provide bold support politically, militarily, and economically."

He also urged the overseas advisory members, "Please actively communicate with future generations so that the mission of peaceful unification can transcend generations and encompass the entire nation."

The overseas advisory members proposed policy suggestions including strengthening support for the settlement of overseas North Korean defectors, developing overseas unification public diplomacy through K-culture, and enhancing solidarity with local mainstream societies to spread consensus on peaceful unification.

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