South Korean leader says North Korea wants US attention by showing off nuclear might

North Korea’s recent disclosure of a nuclear facility was likely an attempt to grab US attention ahead of next month’s presidential election and the North is likely to stage major provocations like a nuclear test explosion and a long-range missile test, South Korea’s president says.

President Yoon Suk-yeol shared his government’s assessment on the recent moves by North Korea with The Associated Press, before he left on Sunday for a three-nation trip that includes a stop in Laos for summits with Southeast Asian and other world leaders.

At Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean)-related meetings, Yoon says he’ll emphasise that North Korea’s nuclear disarmament is essential to regional peace.

“At the upcoming Asean-related summits, I will stress the importance of denuclearisation of North Korea, which is a prerequisite for realising a free, peaceful and prosperous Indo-Pacific region,” Yoon said in written responses to questions from the AP.

“This will serve to send a clear message that the international community will never condone North Korea’s reckless actions,” he said.

Concerns about North Korea have grown in recent weeks, with the country unveiling a secretive uranium-enrichment facility, vowing to build more nuclear weapons and continuing its provocative missile tests. Last week, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un threatened to destroy South Korea with his nuclear weapons, if provoked.