North Korea looks closely at Ukraine.
This is the reason 2:38
SEOUL (CNN) --
The era of appeasing North Korea is over and any new talks between Seoul and Pyongyang must be initiated by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea's new conservative President Yoon told CNN on Monday. Suk Yeol.
In an exclusive interview with CNN, the first to the media since taking office two weeks ago, Yoon said, "I think the ball is in leader Kim's court, it's his choice to start a dialogue with us."
North Korea has launched 15 missile tests so far this year, more than the past two years combined, and last month Kim vowed to "strengthen and develop" its nuclear forces at the "highest possible speed."
From his new presidential office in the old defense building in Seoul, Yoon told CNN that South Korea and its allies are ready for any act of provocation from North Korea.
Biden Arrives In South Korea With Growing Fears Over Potential North Korean Missile Or Nuclear Test
South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaking to CNN from the presidential office on May 23.
"Just temporarily escaping North Korea's provocation or conflict is not something we should do," he said, pointing to the conciliatory strategy of the previous Liberal administration.
"This kind of approach over the last five years has proven to be a failure."
advertising
Yoon, a former prosecutor and political newcomer, has consistently emphasized his tougher stance on North Korea and his desire to strengthen the South's military, a change from his predecessor, Moon Jae-in, who had promoted dialogue and peaceful reconciliation.
Despite his stance, Yoon said on Monday that he did not want North Korea to "collapse."
"What I want is shared and common prosperity on the Korean peninsula," he said, but added: "I don't think that enhancing [North Korea's] nuclear capability is helpful and conducive to maintaining international peace."
South Korea and its relations with the US, China and the Quad
Given North Korea's recent increase in missile tests and the resumption of activity at its underground nuclear test site, regional leaders were on edge over the weekend as Yoon met with US President Joe Biden in Seoul.
US officials had warned that North Korea could be preparing for an underground nuclear or intercontinental ballistic missile test during Biden's visit, his first trip to Asia since taking office.
So far, that hasn't happened.
But the two men found common ground, Yoon said, showing CNN a gift he received from Biden, a sign that read "I am responsible."
The quote is often associated with former US President Harry S. Truman.
"I don't know how (Biden) knew I like this statement," Yoon said, placing it in the middle of his desk.
The United States and South Korea express their willingness to expand military exercises in response to the nuclear north
Yoon speaks with CNN international correspondent Paula Hancocks on May 23 in the presidential office, decorated with a framed photo of Yoon with one of his family's many pets, including four dogs and three cats.
Throughout his campaign, Yoon emphasized the importance of South Korea's close security alliance with the US, a drive that was fully on display after his meeting with Biden, when the US president praised their relationship. to reach "new heights".
After their meeting, the two leaders announced in a joint statement that they would begin discussions on restarting and possibly expanding joint military exercises that had been halted under Biden's predecessor, a step likely to anger North Korea. .
On Monday, Yoon defended the move as purely defensive.
Regular military training is "the basic duty of every military in the world to maintain their readiness," she said.
He added that in the event of an attack, the United States would provide assistance, including missile defense and its "nuclear umbrella," a nuclear-armed state's promise of protection to a non-nuclear ally.
However, he ruled out the possibility of "relocating tactical nuclear weapons to the [Korean] peninsula".
But South Korea could see its partnership with the United States and other regional players expand in other ways.
Yoon said it was in South Korea's "national interest" to join Biden's Indo-Pacific Economic Framework, a recently unveiled economic plan for like-minded democracies in the region that is seen as a counter to China's dominance.
He added that South Korea is also considering joining various working groups of the "Quad," or Quad Security Dialogue, an informal group made up of the US, Australia, India and Japan, to collaborate in areas including vaccines, change climate and emerging technology.
However, he stopped short of saying the South would seek official Quad membership, saying it was something they would "continue to consider."
The Quad has become more active in recent years as concerns about China's territorial claims in the region grow, with the four heads of state set to hold an in-person summit in Tokyo on Tuesday.
Beijing has condemned the bloc as an anti-China "clique" emblematic of a "poisonous" Cold War mentality.
For years, South Korea has tried to balance its alliance with the United States with growing economic ties with China, but Seoul's relations with Beijing have become strained in recent years.
Throughout his campaign, Yoon adopted a cooler tone toward China than his predecessor, portraying the country as an economic rival.
Asked about the risk of incurring Beijing's fury by forging closer ties with the United States, Yoon dismissed the threat of economic retaliation.
"Even if we strengthen our alliances with the United States on security and technology, it does not mean that we think our economic cooperation with China is not important," he said.
Furthermore, he added, both South Korea and China depend on each other's cooperation, "so I don't think it's reasonable for China to be too sensitive about this issue."
South Korea Yoon Suk Yeol