Yoon says South could build nukes quickly, but won't

President Yoon Suk Yeol said that while South Korea has the ability to develop its own nuclear armament in a short period of time if it wants to, it will not opt to do so, taking into consideration international nonproliferation obligations.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, shows a KBS anchor gifts he received from U.S. President Joe Biden in his state visit to Washington last year during a tour of the Yongsan presidential office in Seoul on Sunday for an interview with the public broadcaster. The interview was aired on Wednesday evening, ahead of the Lunar New Year holiday. [PRESIDENTIAL OFFICE]

President Yoon Suk Yeol said that while South Korea has the ability to develop its own nuclear armament in a short period of time if it wants to, it will not opt to do so, taking into consideration international nonproliferation obligations.

Referring to some domestic demands for South Korea to develop its own nuclear arsenal in light of North Korea's rising military threats, Yoon said in a prerecorded interview with public broadcaster KBS, which aired on Wednesday evening, that it "won't take that long if we put our minds to it."

However, he noted that while South Korea could rapidly develop nuclear weapons considering its advanced science and technology capabilities, it is "unrealistic" to opt to become a nuclear state because this would result in economic sanctions, just like those imposed on the North.

He underscored that it is in South Korea's national interest to comply strictly with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty (NPT), saying Seoul is mindful of the economic and diplomatic consequences of nuclear armament.

Yoon noted that Seoul's nuclear armament "could cause unnecessary misunderstanding with neighboring countries" and also damage the alliance with Washington.

Analysts point out that Yoon's remarks take into consideration concerns that the United States' commitment to extended deterrence could be shaken depending on the results of the U.S. presidential election in November. Yoon appeared to express trust in the U.S. commitment to extended deterrence but left room for all available options to be reviewed to curb North Korea's nuclear weapons program.

Former U.S. President Donald Trump, a Republican presidential candidate, has often questioned the necessity of a U.S. nuclear umbrella in the region.

During the 100-minute New Year's interview with KBS, Yoon addressed a range of foreign affairs and security issues, including North Korean denuclearization and the evolving alliance with the United States.

Yoon pointed to his efforts since he took office in May 2022 to upgrade the alliance and U.S. extended deterrence in response to public concerns over the reliability of Washington's commitment to a nuclear umbrella in the region.

This led to the establishment of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) following the Washington Declaration with U.S. President Joe Biden during Yoon's state visit to the United States in April 2023.

"Progress is currently being made in the direction where the South Korea-U.S. military alliance is further upgraded to a nuclear-based alliance, where both countries discuss and participate more closely in planning and executing specific nuclear operations," Yoon said.

Yoon also downplayed any concerns stemming from the upcoming U.S. presidential results, saying it isn't appropriate for him to "predict or comment on the election results of an allied country" but added he doesn't anticipate any major problems nor any "significant changes in the foreign policy of the United States."

On Pyongyang, Yoon kept open the possibility of an inter-Korean summit, regardless of whether North Korea gives up its nuclear weapons, but only if it will produce tangible results.

He said such talks should result from a humanitarian cooperative relationship and "bottom-up" working-level meetings that set a proper agenda.

Regarding past inter-Korean summits led by former liberal Presidents Kim Dae-jung, Roh Moo-hyun and Moon Jae-in, he said they all "made an effort to improve inter-Korean relations," but noted, "now that we look back, there was no gain."

"We plan to provide audacious strategic support even if North Korea does not completely give up its nuclear weapons if it changes its course of nuclear advancement and shows its intention or begins steps to give up its nuclear weapons," Yoon said.

Yoon reaffirmed plans to strengthen South Korea-Japan relations and trilateral security cooperation with the United States.

Yoon praised Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida as a "leader who always keeps his agreements and promises" while discussing a breakthrough in bilateral relations with Seoul and Tokyo last year, which paved the way for closer trilateral cooperation with Washington.

Regarding recent Korean court rulings ordering Japanese companies to compensate wartime forced labor victims, Yoon said, "Regardless of whether such rulings are handed down in the future, South Korea-Japan relations have been restored and are moving toward the future."

On Beijing, Yoon said there aren't many "differences in basic national and foreign relations policies between South Korea and China" and that "there is no need to worry too much about problems" between the two countries.

He didn't immediately address the possibility of Chinese President Xi Jinping visiting Korea this year.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]