South Korea’s government remains unfazed by the upcoming US presidential election, expressing confidence that it can effectively collaborate with whoever occupies the White House to mitigate the nuclear threat posed by North Korea, Vice Unification Minister Kim Soo Kyung said in an interview with Bloomberg.
The enduring alliance between Seoul and Washington ensures a united front against Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, she added.
Kim noted that while it has become increasingly difficult for North Koreans to escape their dictatorship, there has been a notable increase in the defection of elites to South Korea under Kim Jong Un’s leadership. This shift stresses the regime’s internal challenges, even as it continues to enhance its military capabilities, the official noted.
Some South Koreans have voiced concerns over a perceived lack of emphasis on North Korea’s denuclearization in the Democratic Party’s platform ahead of the election. However, Kim Soo Kyung reassured that the alliance between South Korea and the US was stronger than ever.
“We are not that worried about what happens after the US election,” she stated on Friday, shortly after the conclusion of the Democratic National Convention. She emphasized that regardless of the election outcome, “we are going to deter North Korea’s threat of nuclear weapons based on the strong alliance between our two countries.”
North Korea has been adamant in refusing talks with the US since 2019. Following a series of three in-person meetings between Kim Jong Un and then-President Donald Trump that ultimately failed to curb Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, the regime has also rebuffed offers from President Joe Biden’s administration for diplomatic engagement. Instead, it has focused on expanding its nuclear arsenal, considering Wasnigton’s actions as a sign of “hostile intent.”
In response to the evolving security landscape, Biden, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol, and former Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have enhanced trilateral cooperation, conducting joint military drills aimed at scenarios that include defending against North Korea’s ballistic missile threats and locating its submarines.
Earlier this month, President Yoon extended fresh overtures to North Korea, proposing aid, dialogue, and a roadmap to unification. However, Kim’s regime has not responded to these proposals, maintaining silence on the offer.
Meanwhile, North Korean state media dismissed comments made by Donald Trump during the Republican National Convention regarding his relationship with Kim.
Pyongyang stated, “we do not care,” reinforcing that its nuclear capabilities remain ready to respond to any U.S. president. According to the regime, the perception of U.S. policy toward North Korea remains antagonistic, independent of who is in power in Washington.
