Yoon says any meetings with North Korean leader should be for 'tangible' results
Incoming President Yoon Suk-yeol / Courtesy of Yoon's press office |
President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol has said he is willing to meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but talks should only take place when they produce tangible results on the North's denuclearization or cross-border exchanges.
"There is no reason to shun meetings (with Kim). But if such meetings are only for show and fail to have practical results on denuclearization and our economic assistance to the North, they will not be helpful for denuclearizing the North and advancing inter-Korean relations," Yoon said in a recent interview with the Voice of America (VOA) reported Saturday.
Asked about any preconditions for a possible summit with Kim, Yoon said they would be set via working-level consultations with Pyongyang.
Yoon, however, pointed to the need to boost inter-Korean exchanges in the cultural and sports fields "as Korean people."
"It is crucial to send consistent signals and messages to the North (with regards to its nuclear programs). ... We will review and prepare for programs designed to significantly improve North Korea's economic situation, which will be implemented when North Korea takes irreversible denuclearization steps," he added.
President Moon Jae-in and Kim held three summits in 2018, but inter-Korean relations have chilled and the Korea peace process has stalled since no deal was reached at the end of the 2019 Hanoi summit between Kim and then U.S. President Donald Trump.
North Korea fires apparent SLBM off east coast 2022-05-07 16:02 | North Korea North Korea could stage nuclear test this month: State Dept. 2022-05-07 09:42 | North Korea
As for the envisioned transfer of the wartime operational control (OPCON) of Korean troops from Washington to Seoul, Yoon said South Korea was not fully prepared in terms of surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities.
"Who takes the command should be decided based on the most effective ways of winning a war, not for any causes or ideologies," Yoon said, stressing the need to advance the country's defense system against North Korean missiles.
The current Moon Jae-in government sought to retake OPCON at an early date, though no specific timeframe has been set as it is conditions-, not time-based. There have been delays in due procedures for the transfer due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other issues.
The mutually agreed-upon conditions include Seoul's capabilities to lead South Korea-U.S. combined forces, its strike and air defense capabilities, and a regional security environment conducive to the handover.
Speaking of the upcoming summit with U.S. President Joe Biden, Yoon said the two sides would discuss South Korea's envisioned participation in broader agendas within the framework of the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue (Quad).
The U.S.-led security partnership involves Australia, Japan and India, and is widely seen as a forum aimed at countering China's rise. Yoon has said he will positively review joining the group if his country is invited.
"It has been 69 years since the formation of the Korea-U.S. alliance. ... Now the notion of security should not only be for military goals but be developed into a comprehensive one to cover the economy, advanced technologies, supply chains, climate change and health care," he added.
The conservative former top prosecutor is set to be sworn in Tuesday amid heightening tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
North Korea has carried out a serious of ballistic missile tests, including launching an intercontinental missile, and there have been signs of Pyongyang preparing for another nuclear test.
Jalina Porter, a U.S. State Department spokesperson, said Friday that North Korea is preparing its Punggye-ri nuclear test site and could be ready to conduct a test there as early as this month. (Yonhap)
(责任编辑:关于我们)
- NYT mini crossword answers for August 29
- N. Korea suspected of hacking South's subway operator
- Free trade deal solidifies Obama's pivot to Asia
- Apple's iPhone 8 might come in a hot new 'copper gold' color
- Tesla reveals Cybertruck has sold more than DeLorean
- 'Black Myth: Wukong' PS5 review in progress: A potential masterpiece
- Hands on with the Soft Gold OnePlus 5 Android phone with dual cameras
- Nigeria says 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls freed in swap
- 广东绿色种养与科学施肥结合成效显著,环境友好农民增收!
- LG Display starts production of advanced OLED displays for gaming
- Ruud books ATP Finals last four spot
- Manchester United finally sack manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
- Police officers greet Trump with 'Make America Great Again' hats
-
评论丨农事运动会:一场农民的盛会、新农人风采展现的盛会、城乡双向奔赴的盛会
评论丨农事运动会:一场农民的盛会、新农人风采展现的盛会、城乡双向奔赴的盛会_南方+_南方plus广东省农事运动会火了,周末两天5场农事活动,场场都成为热搜话题。青瓦村屋旁、乡土大地上,来自广东各地的城 ...[详细] -
Advertisers look to commiserate with disenchanted voters
At some point in the coming weeks, one American will travel to a foreign country of his or her choos ...[详细] -
Matthew McConaughey teamed up with Wild Turkey to hand out free... frozen turkeys
We didn't think the McConaissance would include so much poultry. Matthew McConaughey teamed up with ...[详细] -
Nigeria says 21 abducted Chibok schoolgirls freed in swap
Twenty-one of Nigeria's Chibok schoolgirls kidnapped by Boko Haram more than two years ago have been ...[详细] -
Flying spaghetti monster and unworldly life filmed in deep sea footage
Scientists discovered a giant underwater mountain. And it's teeming with deep sea life.An endeavor a ...[详细] -
Manchester United finally sack manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer
MANCHESTER:Manchester United ended Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's three-year reign as manager at Old Tra ...[详细] -
S. Korean watchdog probes alleged FX law violators
The South Korean financial watchdog said Monday that it has launched an investigation into 27 local ...[详细] -
U.N. members push for new resolution calling for N. Koreas's referral to ICC: sources
South Korea, the United States and their like-minded partners have begun drafting a new U.N. resolut ...[详细] -
Yoon, US Senate's armed service committee chief discuss alliance, N.K. threats
President Yoon Suk Yeol (right) shakes hands with Sen. Jack Reed, chairman of the US Senate's a ...[详细] -
Koreans value Internet privacy over right to know: poll
South Koreans tend to value Internet privacy over the right to know, a poll showed Tuesday, with a m ...[详细]
- Top 10 Tech Pranks
- Police officers greet Trump with 'Make America Great Again' hats
- President Obama, I will go to Mars if all of these celebrities are going
- Advertisers look to commiserate with disenchanted voters
- 7 Reasons to Explore Boston’s Lesser
- Koreans value Internet privacy over right to know: poll
- N. Koreans visit Olympic venues for second day