South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol declared on Friday that his country, within the framework of its alliance with the United States, is fully prepared to respond if North Korea launches a nuclear attack.

In remarks reported by Newsweek, Yoon emphasized that the South Korean-US alliance, backed by American nuclear capabilities, would swiftly retaliate against any such aggression from Pyongyang.

"I believe it would be irrational for them to decide to launch a nuclear attack on the Republic of Korea, and if they do, the nuclear-based ROK-US alliance will immediately strike North Korea with an American nuclear weapon," Yoon stated.

Yoon further asserted that South Korea does not require its own nuclear arsenal, instead relying on the US nuclear umbrella for national security. His stance reinforces a conservative approach toward North Korea, diverging from recent South Korean administrations and reflecting a more assertive posture toward Pyongyang’s growing nuclear and missile capabilities.

Tensions have escalated recently as North Korea conducted a test of its new intercontinental ballistic missile, the Hwasong-19, on October 31. This launch follows accusations from the US and South Korea that Pyongyang has sent troops to assist Russia in Ukraine, further straining North Korea's relations with the West.

Yoon's comments also highlight Seoul's ongoing commitment to strengthening its security alliance with Washington, marking 70 years of partnership between the two nations. This alliance has gained renewed focus with former US President Donald Trump re-entering American political life, following his recent election victory.

The Korean Peninsula remains in a state of unresolved conflict, as the 1950-1953 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving North and South Korea technically at war. (ILKHA)