South Korea Maintains Stance Against Nuclear Armament Amid North Korean Threats

President Yoon Suk Yeol reaffirms South Korea's commitment to a non-nuclear strategy, emphasizing economic risks and the importance of U.S. alliance.

South Korea's President Yoon Suk Yeol reiterates the country's decision not to pursue its own nuclear deterrent, citing potential economic sanctions and commitment to the Nonproliferation Treaty.
Yoon highlights South Korea's capability to develop nuclear weapons quickly if chosen, but deems it unrealistic due to the impact on the trade-dependent economy.
The president seeks stronger U.S. reassurances for nuclear defense against North Korea's escalating threats and weapons tests.
North Korea intensifies pressure, with leader Kim Jong Un declaring the South as its most hostile adversary and discontinuing economic cooperation laws.
Yoon advocates for a bottom-up approach to diplomacy with North Korea, emphasizing working-level exchanges before any high-level summits.