South Korean President Yoon Seok-yol said Seoul is in talks with the US capital, Washington, to carry out joint planning and exercises to counter North Korea's nuclear threats.

In an interview with the Joseon Ilbo, Yoon said the idea of the United States providing a nuclear umbrella or an extended deterrence to South Korea is not enough to reassure public opinion in South Korea.

A day after North Korea's official media announced that leader Kim Jong-un called for an "accelerated increase" in his country's nuclear arsenal, and described South Korea as an undoubted enemy, the South Korean president indicated that "in the past, the concept of the nuclear umbrella was It means preparing against the Soviet Union and China before North Korea develops nuclear weapons, and what we call extended deterrence was referring to the United States also telling us not to worry because they will take care of everything, but now it is difficult to convince our people of that.

“The US government also understands this to some extent,” he added, announcing that “to better respond to the North Korean nuclear threat, Seoul hopes to participate in the operations of US nuclear forces. For effective extended deterrence, we are in talks with the US on the concept of joint planning and exercises.” They share nuclear capabilities, and they are very positive about that."

"Nuclear weapons are owned by the United States, but the planning and sharing of information, maneuvers and exercises should be done jointly by South Korea and the United States, meaning that South Korea and the United States are jointly engaged, which is a huge progress over the previous concept of extended deterrence," Yoon said.

And about whether he has plans to hold a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, Yoon said there is no doubt about that, "but I think the people are a bit tired of summits that are done for propaganda only, and we have to start dialogue on humanitarian issues, and open the door for communication." South-North dialogue, and setting a direction by having a certain amount of discussions about the two countries' agendas.
Source: agencies