South Korea’s president says the era of North Korea’s “appeasement” is over

The new conservative president of South KoreaAnd Yoon Seok Yeolon Monday, 23, that era of “appease” relations with North Korea finished, and that any interstate conversation must come from the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un.

“I think the ball is in President Kim’s court – In an interview with CNN, Yul said his choice was to start a conversation with us.

The South Korean president, who was sworn in on May 10, said Seoul and its allies are ready to respond to any provocations from Pyongyang, which this year alone has conducted 16 missile tests, more than the past two years combined. of between it One type An intercontinental ballistic missile at the end of March, hours before the start of the meeting of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), the main Western military alliance, which according to analysts will be the most powerful missile launched since 2017, with a capacity to strike cities on the western coast of the United States.

Yoon, the former attorney general new to politics, has a tougher stance than his predecessor Moon Jae-in on North Korea. Unlike the former president, who took a more peaceful line with the North, he expresses his desire to strengthen the country’s armed forces.

“Just temporarily escaping from North Korean provocation or conflict is not something we should do,” he said, referring to the liberal government’s previous conciliatory strategy. “This kind of approach over the past five years has proven to be a failure.”

On Friday the twentieth American President, Joe BidenAnd Yoon met in Seoul, to discuss Kim Jong-un’s nuclear programme, among other things. authorities we He warned that North Korea could prepare for an underground nuclear or ICBM test during Biden’s visit, but that has not happened yet.

In a joint statement, the United States and South Korea announced that they would begin discussions to expand potential joint military exercises that were halted under Donald Trump, a move likely to anger the North Korean leader. The South Korean president says it’s just a defensive move.

Although last December North and South Korea, along with we And China, at first agreed to We declare the end of the Korean WarNearly 70 years after the conflict ended, tensions remain high.

In addition to recent tests, the A country ruled by Kim RIt is also expanding its arsenal of missiles capable of reaching South Korea, which includes about 28,500 US troops. The North Korean leader recently warned that he would preemptively use nuclear weapons if threatened or provoked, hinting at an escalation in his nuclear doctrine.

Within this scenario, the The South Korean head of state has said he wants to strengthen ties with Washington while improving his country’s missile attack and defense capabilities.

Analysts at the Research Institute for South Korea’s National Strategy say Jong Un It will also seek a strong statement from Biden that reaffirms the United States’ commitment to providing “extended deterrence” to South Korea and a pledge to defend its ally’s full range of military capabilities, including nuclear weapons, in the event of war with South Korea. north.