N Korea's Missile Tests, Nuclear Ambitions Pose Serious Threat: South Korean Prez

North Korea's increased missile tests, growing nuclear ambitions, and other provocative actions pose a serious threat that could lead to a dangerous miscalculation and spark a wider conflict, according to South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol.

Speaking to The Associated Press at the presidential office in Seoul, the conservative leader reiterated his call for closer security cooperation with the United States and Japan to counter the dangerous situation created by North Korea, while downplaying the prospect of direct negotiations, as his liberal predecessor did.

We've seen miscalculation lead to serious wars many times in history, Yoon said, adding that the North's advancing nuclear arsenal directly threatens the US mainland, South Korea and neighbouring Japan.

Much of the nearly hour-long interview focused on North Korea, which conducted a record number of missile tests last year and recently violated South Korean airspace for the first time in five years by flying drones across the border.

The South responded by firing warning shots, scrambling jets, and flying its own surveillance equipment across the border.

Days later, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un began the new year by ordering an exponential increase in the size of his nuclear arsenal as well as the development of a more powerful intercontinental ballistic missile.

Some experts believe the testing spree is primarily intended to modernise North Korea's arsenal, which it hopes to use as leverage in future negotiations with the US to obtain sanctions relief and other concessions.

North Korea may have its own internal reasons, but there is no way for us or any other country to know why they are engaging in such provocations. Yoon stated.

These illegal North Korean provocations can only strengthen (South Korea's) security response capabilities, as well as the security cooperation between South Korea, the United States and Japan, he said.