President Yoon: "Realistically Respecting the NPT... Japan's Security Enhancement Is Not a Major Issue"

WSJ Interview "North Korea Faces Difficulty Choosing Between Nuclear and Economic Priorities"

[Asia Economy Reporter Choi Seoyoon] President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 20th, "At present, it is realistic and reasonable for us to respect the NPT (Non-Proliferation Treaty) system."

The Blue House conveyed that President Yoon made this remark during an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) released on the same day. President Yoon was interviewed on-site in Switzerland, where the World Economic Forum (WEF, Davos Forum) was being held.

According to the Korean transcript distributed by the Blue House, President Yoon said, "The people of South Korea and I have considerable trust in the United States' extended deterrence against the North Korean nuclear threat."

This is interpreted as President Yoon expressing his intention to maintain the principle of denuclearization on the Korean Peninsula. This nuance is quite different from the recent public mention of the possibility of possessing nuclear weapons, which caused a stir. The Blue House explained that his previous remarks were intended to clearly demonstrate the resolve of the military commander-in-chief to protect the people amid the escalating North Korean nuclear threat. WSJ also evaluated that "President Yoon dialed back his past statements about developing nuclear weapons."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is being interviewed by the Associated Press at the Presidential Office in Yongsan, Seoul, on the 10th. [Image source=AP Yonhap News]

President Yoon said, "Currently, the United States and South Korea are discussing creating a system called joint planning and joint execution regarding the operation of U.S. nuclear assets." He added, "The government highly respects the NPT system, and I think it is important to further strengthen extended deterrence with the U.S. and to solidify security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan." He also said, "North Korea has to choose between nuclear weapons and the economy, but it seems unlikely that they will choose the economy for the time being," according to the Blue House.

Regarding Japan's recent moves to strengthen its security, President Yoon evaluated, "Since it is about strengthening security cooperation and joint response among South Korea, the U.S., and Japan against the North Korean nuclear threat, I think it is not a big problem."

On the U.S. semiconductor export control law, he said, "The primary issue is to ensure that our companies do not suffer discriminatory disadvantages in the practical application of that law," adding, "We are currently conducting various discussions to prevent our companies from facing fatal risks that would require a comprehensive review of their business." He also mentioned, "I plan to visit China soon after consultations."

Some interpreted this as the possibility of President Yoon's first visit to China since taking office coming into view. However, the Blue House stated that it was merely an expression of willingness to consult. It is also known that there are no concrete coordination moves between the South Korean and Chinese diplomatic authorities.

During the South Korea-China summit held on the sidelines of the G20 summit in November last year, President Yoon repeatedly requested President Xi Jinping's visit to South Korea, but President Xi responded with the condition, "Once the COVID-19 situation stabilizes to some extent," and re-invited President Yoon to visit China.

The Blue House is placing more weight on the possibility of President Yoon's visit to Japan being realized within the first half of the year. The diplomatic authorities of both countries are continuing final negotiations on a solution to the issue of compensation for forced laborers during the Japanese colonial period.

A senior Blue House official responded to questions about the possibility of President Yoon's visit to Japan during a briefing for the local press corps on the 19th (local time), saying, "I think it can be interpreted positively, but since consultations are ongoing to resolve current issues, it is still a bit early to predict the outcome and discuss the next steps."

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