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South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol speaks via videoconference at a high-level meeting of IPEF members on May 23. (provided by the Office of the President)

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Monday that “just to escape temporarily North Korean provocation or conflict is not something we should do,” adding that “this kind of approach over the past five years has proven to be a failure.” He also said whether the two Koreas can engage in dialogue is a matter North Korean leader Kim Jong-un should decide.

These remarks came during an interview with CNN at his Yongsan office, when Yoon was asked about heightened concerns about intercontinental ballistic missile and nuclear testing by Pyongyang and predictions that the Korean Peninsula may revert back to its state prior to 2017, when tensions escalated in the region.

Through his statement, Yoon characterized the Moon Jae-in administration’s Korean Peninsula peace process and attempts at dialogue with the North as a failure, making clear that his administration will assert its deterrence against Pyongyang and pursue policies that emphasize North Korea’s need to denuclearize first.

CNN’s headline for its interview with Yoon read, “South Korea’s new leader says age of appeasing North Korea is over.”

When asked how he will respond to North Korea during his five-year term, considering Kim’s apparent disinterest in dialogue concerning denuclearization, Yoon said, “I think the ball is in Chairman Kim’s court — it is his choice to start a dialogue with us.”

Stressing that he didn’t want North Korea to “collapse,” Yoon continued, “My hope is for North Korea to prosper alongside South Korea [. . .] I do not believe that enhancing [North Korea’s] nuclear capability is helpful and conducive to maintaining international peace.” He added that he questioned whether the North would be able to maintain its current position long-term, emphasizing that the choice to engage in dialogue is in the hands of Kim.

Yoon also said South Korea would respond strongly to North Korea’s potential seventh nuclear test. “Our response will be stronger and firmer than it has been before,” he said, stating that Seoul will strongly and firmly respond to any North Korean threats or provocations to prevent further provocations by Pyongyang.

Earlier, following Saturday’s South Korea-US summit, Yoon and US President Joe Biden had released a joint statement that specifically mentioned “nuclear, conventional, and missile defense capabilities” as the extended deterrence the US would provide to South Korea in case of military conflict, boasting their resolve to respond strongly to North Korean provocations.

Concerning his agreement with Biden to “initiate discussions to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training” between South Korea and the US, Yoon said it is “the basic duty of every military around the world to maintain their readiness,” reaffirming his commitment to expanding South Korea’s joint military exercises with the US.

Still, on the possibility of tactical nuclear weapons being deployed on the Korean Peninsula, he said the matter had not been discussed.

In regard to the possibility of economic retaliation from China following South Korea’s announcement of its intention to join the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, Yoon said, “It does not mean that we think our economic cooperation with China is unimportant.”

“I do not believe it is reasonable for China to be overly sensitive about this matter,” he added.

By Seo Young-ji, staff reporter

Please direct questions or comments to [english@hani.co.kr]