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President of South Korea promises denuclearization of North Korea

TOPSHOT - This picture taken on January 14, 2022 and released from North Korea's official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) on January 15 shows a firing drill of railway-borne missile regiment is held in North Pyongan Province. South Korea OUT / ---EDITORS NOTE--- RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT

Yoon Suk-yeol has been sworn in as South Korea's new president. President Yoon is a former prosecutor winning the election in March by the slimmest of margins. During his inaugural ceremony he called for the complete denuclearization of North Korea, saying Pyongyang's weapons programme poses a threat to global security.

He said Seoul is ready to provide a boldly far reaching economic plan if the North commits to nuclear disarmament.

If North Korea genuinely embarks on the path to complete denuclearization, Seoul is prepared to work with the international community on an audacious plan that will vastly strengthen North Korea's economy and improve the lives of its people.

While North Korea's nuclear weapons programme are a threat, not only to our region … and that of the North Asia region, the door to dialogue will remain open so that we can peacefully resolve this threat.

Yoon Suk-yeol, South Korean President

And to think that is it possible to dismantle these defending programs just with the promises ... to commit a very strong economic plan if North Korea committed to disarmament I think he is a little bit unrealistic, these kind of requests.

FabrizioGoldoni, Analyst and Commentator

The new president of South Korea has suggested a tougher line on North Korea, warning of a preemptive strike in the event of an attack and vowing to strengthen his country's deterrence capability.

He favors stronger ties with the US and has adopted a rigid stance toward North Korea. Experts believe Seoul's policy toward Pyongyang will take a turn from rapprochement to more tensions.

President Yoon has not provided any details as to whether he plans to reengage or provide economic incentives to the north, however, officials in his national security team have said his government would devise a roadmap in the early days in which Pyongyang could quickly earn sanctions relief or economic aid in exchange for denuclearization measures.

The comments by South Korea's new president come amid rising tensions in the Korean Peninsula with North Korea having ramped up its military activities in recent weeks.

Pyongyang launched its second ballistic missile in three days as a response to US efforts at the United Nations to impose further sanctions on the country.

North Korea always has a plan for development of weapon,  nuclear also weapon and basically as a deterrent against any kind of attack that came from the area where are situated, you know and we know that in South Korea we have a very important military base of the United States (sic).

FabrizioGoldoni, Analyst and Commentator

South Korea's military declared on Saturday that the submarine launched ballistic missile was the second such launch in three days by the North.

Last week, while overseeing a huge military parade, North Korean leader, Kim Jong Un, vowed to develop his nuclear forces at the fastest possible speed and warned of possible preemptive strikes.

The country has also dramatically ramped up its sanctions busting missile launches this year, conducting 15 weapons tests, including the firing of an Intercontinental Ballistic Missile, ICBM, at full range for the first time since 2017.

US President Joe Biden is due to visit Japan and South Korea later this month with Pyongyang expected to be high on the agenda for both visits.

Washington appears to be ratcheting up pressure on North Korea. The Biden administration is seeking a UN Security Council meeting on North Korea to further isolate the nation.

 


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