North Korea has rejected similar past overtures by some of Yoon’s predecessors that link incentives to progress in its denuclearization. In recent months, North Korea has test-launched a spate of nuclear-capable missiles that could target South Korea, Japan and the mainland United States. South Korea is also bracing for the fallout of Russia’s war on Ukraine in global energy markets. Chung Jin-young, a professor at Kyung Hee University, said South Korea must accept that it cannot force North Korea to denuclearize or ease the U.S.-China standoff. Yoon must also rebuild South Korea’s pandemic response, shaken by a massive omicron surge in recent months.

Source: The North Africa Journal May 10, 2022 10:19 UTC