ROK Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-sup speaks at the Shangri-La Dialogue summit in Singapore on June 12, 2022. (ROSLAN RAHMAN / AFP)
SINGAPORE – Republic of Korea Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said on Sunday that his country would dramatically enhance its defense capabilities and work closely with the United States and Japan after the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea conducted missile tests.
Lee, speaking at an Asian security meeting in Singapore, said the situation on the Korean peninsula posed a global threat and he urged DPRK to immediately end its nuclear weapon and missile programs.
Republic of Korea Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup said the situation on the Korean peninsula posed a global threat and he urged DPRK to immediately end its nuclear weapon and missile programs
The United States warned this month that the DPRK is preparing to conduct a seventh nuclear test, and says it will again push for United Nations sanctions if that happens.
"Our government will strengthen capabilities to better implement the US extended deterrents and will dramatically enhance response capabilities," Lee said in a speech at the Shangri-La Dialogue, a top regional security summit.
"Moreover, we seek to strengthen ROK, US, Japan trilateral security cooperation to respond to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats." The DPRK is also referred to as North Korea.
The DPRK promoted its key nuclear negotiator to foreign minister, state media said on Saturday, as DPRK top leader Kim Jong-un vowed that he would use "power for power" to fight threats to the country's sovereignty.
The DPRK has carried out at least 18 rounds of weapons tests this year, underscoring its evolving missile arsenals.
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