President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea has shared his government’s assessment that North Korea’s recent disclosure of a nuclear facility was likely an attempt to shift U.S. attention ahead of the presidential election. He believes that North Korea is gearing up to stage major provocations such as a nuclear test explosion and a long-range missile test. President Yoon emphasized the importance of North Korea’s nuclear disarmament for regional peace in written responses to questions from The Associated Press before embarking on a trip that includes participation in summits with Southeast Asian and other world leaders in Laos.
During the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN)-related meetings, President Yoon stated his intention to stress the significance of denuclearization of North Korea as a prerequisite for a free, peaceful, and prosperous Indo-Pacific region. He suggested that sending a clear message that the international community will not condone North Korea’s reckless actions is crucial.
In recent weeks, concerns have heightened as North Korea unveiled a secretive uranium-enrichment facility and pledged to develop more nuclear weapons while continuing its provocative missile tests. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un even issued threats to destroy South Korea with nuclear weapons if provoked. Foreign experts speculate that North Korea aims to leverage an expanded nuclear arsenal to gain concessions like sanctions relief, especially with the anticipation of a new U.S. president.
President Yoon mentioned that North Korea’s disclosure of the nuclear site on September 13 was an act of defiance against U.S.-led efforts to eliminate its advancing nuclear program. He expressed concerns about potential future provocations from North Korea, including nuclear tests and intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) launches. South Korea is closely monitoring North Korea’s activities through combined intelligence and surveillance assets with the U.S.
Since taking office in 2022, President Yoon has prioritized strengthening the military alliance with the United States to address North Korea’s evolving nuclear threats. He has also made efforts to improve the trilateral security partnership with Japan, despite tensions with North Korea. President Yoon expressed confidence that the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to progress irrespective of the U.S. election outcome, citing bipartisan support for the alliance in the United States.
President Yoon also expressed optimism about advancing bilateral ties with Japan under Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba’s new Cabinet. He believes that North Korea’s nuclear threats against South Korea are aimed at sowing internal divisions and tightening control domestically with heightened military tensions on the Korean Peninsula. During the ASEAN summits, South Korea plans to raise the establishment of the ROK-ASEAN comprehensive strategic partnership and expand cooperation with ASEAN in various areas like politics, military exchanges, cybersecurity, environment, and financial crisis management. President Yoon is scheduled to visit the Philippines and Singapore before Laos.
