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| South Korea Will Increase Defense And Cooperate With US And Japan |
International Military - South Korean Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said his country would increase defense capabilities and cooperate with the United States and Japan. It was done to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
Lee, speaking at the Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, said the situation on the Korean peninsula was a global threat and he urged North Korea to end its nuclear and missile weapons programs immediately.
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The United States this month warned this month that North Korea was preparing to carry out its seventh nuclear test, and said it would again push for UN sanctions if it happened.
"The South Korean government will strengthen the capability to better implement the United States' expanded deterrence, and we will strengthen South Korea's military response capability to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats," Lee said in his speech.
"In addition, we want to strengthen security cooperation between South Korea, the US and Japan to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs," he added as quoted by Channel News Asia, Sunday (12/6/2022).
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Lee said South Korea was ready to extend economic support to North Korea if it ended its nuclear program. "If North Korea makes substantial progress on denuclearization, our government will pursue a bold plan that can result in breakthrough achievements for the North Korean economy and quality of life for its citizens," he said. North Korea itself promoted its main nuclear negotiator to foreign minister, state media reported on Saturday.
North Korea's leader, Kim Jong-un, vowed to his ruling party that he would use "force for power" to counter threats to the country's sovereignty. North Korea has carried out at least 18 rounds of weapons tests this year, underscoring its growing nuclear and missile arsenal.
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