The president of South Korea, Yoon Suk-yeolsaid Wednesday for the first time that if the nuclear threat from the North Korean regime increases, your country would consider the possibility of building their own nuclear weapons or ask the United States to deploy them on the Korean peninsula.
At a joint briefing by the defense and foreign ministries, Yoon said that the development of nuclear weapons is not yet an official decision and that he would continue to deal with the North Korean nuclear threat through his alliance with the United Statesaccording to information from The New York Times.
Yoon’s comments imply the first time since 1991when the United States withdrew all its nuclear weapons from South Korea, which is officially mentioned by a South Korean president provide the country with nuclear weaponsaccording to The York New Times. At the time, Washington withdrew such weapons from the Asian country as part of its global efforts to reduce atomic resources.
“It is possible that the problem will get worse and that our country introduces tactical nuclear weapons or builds them on its ownYoon said, according to a transcript of his comments released by his office. “If that’s the case, we can have our own nuclear weapons pretty quickly, given our scientific and technological capabilities,” she added, according to The New York Times.
Since taking office in May, Yoon has been pushing for bolster confidence in extended US deterrenceits military capabilities, especially nuclear forces, to deter attacks against its allies, while Pyongyang works to ensure its ability to strike anywhere in the United States.
Yoon vowed to foster the “peace through strength”criticizing the North Korea policy of his progressive predecessor, and urged the military to be ready to respond to provocations, his office said.
“A peace that is based on the good faith of others and therefore unsustainable, we call it a fake peace,” Yoon said at the briefing. “We will never carry out aggressive warfare, but we must be completely prepared to forcefully exercise our right to self-defense against the provocations that threaten our freedom and peace”.
South Korea’s Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup He said that unlike in the past, Washington is willing to “drastically expand” the scope of sensitive information to be shared and to “much more reflect” Seoul’s views in planning and implementation.
“There is a shared need between the two parties, given that the nuclear threat from North Korea has become serious not only for South Korea but also for the United States“, said.
Likewise, South Korea and the United States announced that they will carry out simulation exercises next month as allies move to better counter nuclear threats from the North.
Nuclear-armed North Korea launched a unprecedented number of missiles last yearincluding intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM) capable of reaching the continental United States. US and South Korean officials have also warned that North Korea may be preparing for its first test of a nuclear device since 2017.
Officials from both capitals confirmed that they were in talks to enhance joint nuclear planning and implementationpromote the exchange of information and launch simulation exercises, but the moment has not yet been determined.
“We plan to hold simulation exercises in February among defense officials on extended deterrence operational means in the theater of North Korea’s nuclear attacks,” Lee said. at a press conference.
In May, the two countries’ militaries will conduct separate simulation exercises for the first time, which will be “much more concrete and substantive” than the February programs for officials, Lee said.
(With information from Reuters)
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Source-www.infobae.com