SEOUL, Jan 2 (Reuters) – South Korea and the United States are discussing possible joint exercises with U.S. nuclear assets, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said, after North Korean leader Kim Jong One labeled the South as his “undoubted enemy” on January 2. growing cross-border tensions.
Yoon’s comments come days after he called for “war preparedness” with “overwhelming” capability, following a year marked by the North’s record number of missile tests and North Korean drone intrusion into the South last week .
“Nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises and training should be done jointly by South Korea and the United States,” Yoon said in an interview with the Chosun newspaper. Ilbo published on Monday.
The newspaper quoted Yoon as saying that the joint planning and exercises would be aimed at more effective implementation of the US’s “extended deterrence” and that Washington was also “quite positive” about the idea.
The term “extended deterrence” means the ability of the US military, especially its nuclear forces, to deter attacks on US allies.
A Pentagon spokesman said, “We have nothing to announce today,” when asked about Yoon’s comments, adding that the alliance remains “strong.”
Yoon’s remarks also come a day after North Korea’s state media reported that its leader Kim called for the development of new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and an “exponential increase” in the country’s nuclear arsenal.
At a meeting of the Workers’ Party government meeting last week, Kim said South Korea had now become the North’s “undoubted enemy” and launched new military targets, hinting at another year of intensive testing of weapons and tension.
Inter-Korean ties have long been strained, but have been further frayed since Yoon took office in May, pledging a tougher stance on the North rival.
North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile off its east coast on Sunday, in a rare weapons test late at night on New Year’s Day, following three ballistic missile launches on Saturday.
The North’s official KCNA news agency said the projectiles were fired from its super-large multiple rocket launcher system, which Kim said “has South Korea as a whole within striking range and is capable of carrying tactical nuclear warheads.”
The North’s race to advance its nuclear and missile programs has renewed debate over South Korea’s own nuclear weapons, but Yoon said in the Chosun Ilbo interview that maintaining the Non-Proliferation Treaty nuclear weapons remained important.
Yoon’s comments on the nuclear drills are the latest demonstration of his tough stance on North Korea.
He has said that South Korea must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea, calling it the most powerful means to deter any further provocation.
“This year could be a crisis year with military tension on the Korean peninsula going beyond what it was in 2017,” said Hong Min, a senior researcher at the Korea Institute for National Unification, referring to in the days of “fire and fury” under the Trump administration.
“North Korea’s tough stance … and aggressive weapons development when met with joint exercises between South Korea and the United States and the proportional response could increase tension in an instant, and we cannot rule out what It resembles a regional conflict when the two sides have a misunderstanding of the situation,” Hong said.
Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom in Washington; Edited by Raju Gopalakrishnan
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What is the best city to live in South Korea?
If you thrive on a fast-paced life and seek excellence in your career, you may find the big northern cities like Seoul and Incheon to be just what you need. What is this? However, if you want to avoid the crowds, pollution and cold winters, opt for the southern coastal cities and islands like Jeju or Busan.
What is the safest place to live in Korea? The 10 safest cities in South Korea This may interest you : Fatal trip to the United States – Chinadaily.com.cn.
- Jeju Island
- Gwangju.
- Daegu
- Suwon.
- Sinchon
- Myeongdong.
- Gangnam.
- Hongdae
What city in South Korea has the most foreigners?
More foreigners in Korea live in Gyeonggi Province (360,000) than in Seoul (260,000). Incheon is undoubtedly third (66,000) and South Gyeongsang Province fourth (63,000). South Gyeongsang province includes Busan, an area famous for its ports and international connections. There are foreigners all over Korea.
Where do most foreigners live in Korea?
Yongsan-gu Yongsan-gu, the most popular area for expats to live, is located north of the Han River in central Seoul. This may interest you : North Korea says the United States is seeking an apology for an Asian NATO with South Korea and Japan. Expats flock to Yongsan-gu because of the amenities for the foreign population and the foreign community residing in the area.
Where do rich live in Korea?
The Gangnam area, which includes Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Yongsan-gu and Songpa-gu, is one of the wealthiest neighborhoods in South Korea. See the article : High-tech teaching: Older educators take more interest in digital as the academic year begins. What is Gangnam Style? Gangnam has developed greatly since the 1960s with intensive government investment.
Where is the most expensive country to live?
According to the report, Bermuda is the most expensive country in the world. Switzerland ranks second on the list, followed by the Bahamas, Barbados and Iceland to round out the top five. Australia ranks 12th, with an index of 77.75.
Which country has the highest cost of living?
What is the most cheapest country to live in?
Indonesia is the cheapest country to live in the whole world.
How much do English teachers in Korea make?
First-time English teachers in South Korea who work in public schools through programs like EPIK typically earn monthly salaries of 1.5 to 3 million won ($1,150 to $2,650). English teachers at private schools (Hagwons) earn 1.9 to 2.4 million won ($1,600 to $2,000) per month.
Is there a demand for English teachers in Korea? There is a high demand for English teachers in hagwons (private schools) and as a result, hagwons hire year-round. The job market is less competitive for these hagwons since there are so many of them! It’s easy to get a job as an English teacher from the date that suits you best.
Do English teachers get paid well in Korea?
There are many advantages to teaching English in South Korea, including: Money â The biggest incentive to teach English in Korea for many teachers is money. The salary of ESL teachers in Korea is one of the best in the world. Many first-year teachers will earn around 2.1 million won per month ($1,720).
Is teaching English in South Korea worth it?
South Korea is often considered one of the best places to teach English abroad. English teachers in Korea enjoy relatively high salaries, great benefits, and a high quality of life, especially those who teach with EPIK.
