The President of South Korea, Yoon Suk Yeol, said in a February 7th interview that South Korea can “quickly” manufacture nuclear weapons; however, it will not do so.
Despite the capability to do so, Yoon said that if South Korea were to become a nuclear state, it could face economic sanctions similar to what happened with North Korea.
Other reasons are complying with the Nuclear Nonproliferation Treaty and the chance of damaging alliances, especially those with neighboring countries and the United States. South Korea wishes to expand its relations with Washington.
President Yoon also keeps the possibility of an Inter-Korean summit and relations with the North open, regardless of whether they give up their nuclear weapons.
