South Korea’s Yoon warns of military build-up if China doesn’t keep North Korea in check

The South Korean president warned of an influx of military assets if Beijing does not make its ‘best efforts’ to get North Korea to denuclearise

In a wide-ranging interview, Yoon also touched upon South Korea’s role in a possible Taiwan conflict and brought up increased cooperation with Japan

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Chinese President Xi Jinping shakes hands
with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during a state visit to Pyongyang in 2019. Photo: Korean Central News Agency via KNS / AFP

Published: 9:33am, 29 Nov 2022Updated: 2:18pm, 29 Nov 2022

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol warned of an unprecedented joint response with allies if North Korea goes ahead with a nuclear test, and urged China to help dissuade the North from pursuing banned development of nuclear weapons and missiles.

In a wide-ranging interview, Yoon called on China, North Korea’s closest ally, to fulfil its responsibilities as a permanent member of the UN Security Council. He said not doing so would lead to an influx of military assets to the region.

“What is sure is that China has the capability to influence North Korea, and China has the responsibility to engage in the process,” Yoon said in his office on Monday. It was up to Beijing to decide whether it would exert that influence for peace and stability, he added.

North Korea’s actions were leading to increased defence spending in countries around the region, including Japan, and more deployment of American warplanes and ships, Yoon noted.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol called on Beijing to dissuade North Korea from developing nuclear weapons. Photo: Reuters

It is in China’s interest to make its “best efforts” to induce North Korea to denuclearise, he said.