# S.Korea’s Yoon faces early challenge amid hints of N.Korea nuclear test
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2022-05-11
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: South Korean President Yoon faces challenge over economic
Meta Description: Yoon Suk-yeol's proposal to offer economic assistance in return for denuclearisation may be challenged early on by imminent North Korean nuclear test,
URL: https://financedigest.com/s-koreas-yoon-faces-early-challenge-amid-hints-of-n-korea-nuclear-testhtml

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By Hyonhee Shin

SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol’s plans to offer economic aid in return for denuclearisation could face an early challenge amid signs of an imminent North Korean nuclear test – and such proposals have been rebuffed before, analysts say.

Yoon has warned of a “tense” security environment, citing the possible nuclear test, which U.S. and South Korean officials have said could occur as early as this month after Pyongyang broke a 2017 moratorium on long-range missile testing in March.

Analysts say such a test, the North’s first in five years, would be a reality [check for Yoon’s plans](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-plans-streamlined-post-brexit-border-checks.html "UK plans streamlined post-Brexit border checks") to incentivise denuclearisation with “audacious” economic benefits, unveiled in his inauguration speech on Tuesday.

Yoon and his team have given few details on how they would [bring back](https://www.financedigest.com/trump-charges-bring-new-york-zombie-case-back-to-life.html "Trump charges bring New York ‘zombie case’ back to life") Pyongyang to the negotiating table. But some analysts said North Korea is unlikely to accept any aid-for-denuclearisation deal, as its nuclear and missile programmes are mature and still advancing.

It was a somewhat conciliatory message, but [North Korea would never accept this line of reasoning that the South](https://www.financedigest.com/the-north-heads-south-to-mipim-en-masse-to-corner-new-real-estate-business-opportunities.html "The North heads South to MIPIM en masse to corner new real estate business opportunities") would help develop its own economy if it denuclearises,” said Park Won-gon, a North Korea expert at Ewha Womans University in Seoul. To them, that formula [means to deny their regime.”](https://www.financedigest.com/senior-managers-regime-what-does-it-mean-for-the-industry.html "SENIOR MANAGERS REGIME – WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR THE INDUSTRY?")

Pyongyang has said several times in the past decade that it would not abandon its nuclear [programmes in exchange for economic](https://www.financedigest.com/sme-productivity-programme-re-purposed-to-help-businesses-prepare-for-covid-19-economic-recovery.html "SME productivity programme re-purposed to help businesses prepare for Covid-19 economic recovery") rewards, Park added.

Yang Moo-jin, a professor at the University of North Korean Studies in Seoul, noted a similar offer by [former conservative President](https://www.financedigest.com/alderbrooke-appoints-former-vice-president-workforce-analytics-at-ibm-jonathan-ferrar-as-board-advisor.html "Alderbrooke appoints former Vice President, Workforce Analytics at IBM, Jonathan Ferrar as Board Advisor") Lee Myung-bak.

Lee, under his “Vision 3000” initiative, had promised economic assistance to help the North achieve a $3,000 per capita income within 10 years if it abandoned its nuclear and missile programmes and [opened up to the outside](https://www.financedigest.com/cargill-opens-new-brazil-pectin-factory-first-outside-europe.html "Cargill opens new Brazil pectin factory, first outside Europe") world.

Pyongyang called it a plot to overthrow its regime, and inter-Korean ties remained icy throughout Lee’s five years. Many of Yoon’s senior aides, including his [national security](https://www.financedigest.com/onespan-joins-national-cyber-security-alliance-data-privacy-day.html "OneSpan Joins the National Cyber Security Alliance on Data Privacy Day") adviser and his deputy, served in the Lee administration.

“The new government’s offer could induce backlash from the North,” Yang said. He does leave [open the door](https://www.financedigest.com/lack-of-electric-vans-opens-door-for-chinese-other-ev-makers.html "Lack of electric vans opens door for Chinese, other EV makers") for dialogue but did not actually propose talks, and the idea would have slim chances of succeeding as it’s passive and unrealistic.

Yoon on Wednesday nominated Kim Kyou-hyun, a former veteran diplomat with expertise in North Korea and U.S. relations, to be director of the National [Intelligence Service](https://www.financedigest.com/artificial-intelligence-and-financial-services-the-perfect-match.html "Artificial intelligence and financial services – the perfect match?"), overseeing oversee inter-Korean affairs and denuclearisation talks.

Yoon’s new defence minister, Lee Jong-sup, held his first meeting online with key commanding officers after taking office on Tuesday, calling for airtight readiness posture against “omnidirectional [security threats.”](https://www.financedigest.com/russian-threat-to-baltic-security-rising-estonian-intelligence-report.html "Russian threat to Baltic security rising – Estonian intelligence report")

The security situation on the Korean peninsula is extremely grave due to North Korea’s advancing missile threats and possibility of a nuclear [test,” he told the meeting](https://www.financedigest.com/institutions-need-to-consider-spreadsheet-management-to-meet-the-pras-latest-stress-testingexpectations.html "Institutions Need to Consider Spreadsheet Management to Meet the PRA’s Latest Stress Testing Expectations").

Lee ordered the military to respond “sternly and immediately” if the North presses ahead with a “direct provocation,” the ministry said in a statement.

(Reporting by Hyonhee Shin. Editing by Gerry Doyle)


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