FILE PHOTO: South Korea’s President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a speech as he holds his first official news conference, after taking office in May, to mark 100 days in office, in Seoul, South Korea, on August 17, 2022. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
SEOUL — South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol on Friday said his government has been working on building a watertight readiness posture against North Korea’s provocations since he took office, following North Korea’s missile test and deployment of military aircraft that flew near the border dividing the two countries.
On Tuesday, Yoon said North Korea has nothing to gain from nuclear weapons, as the isolated country threatened to beef up its capability to attack its southern neighbor.
“North Korea is consistently developing and upgrading its nuclear weapons and posing nuclear threats to not only our Republic of Korea but the world,” Yoon told reporters, referring to South Korea by its official name.
“I believe it has nothing to gain from nuclear weapons.”
On Monday, North Korea’s state media KCNA said leader Kim Jong Un had guided nuclear tactical exercises targeting South Korea over the past two weeks in protest over recent joint naval drills by South Korean and U.S. forces involving an aircraft carrier.
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