South Korea’s president has warned towards the “critical menace” from North Korea over the latter’s unprecedented missile launches that he mentioned may maintain the chance of a harmful “miscalculation” between the nations concerned.

Yoon Suk-yeol referred to as for nearer safety cooperation with the US and Japan towards the “harmful scenario” posed by the Kim Jong-un regime, reported the Related Press.

“We’ve seen a miscalculation resulting in critical wars many occasions in historical past,” he mentioned, including that the North’s advancing nuclear arsenal poses a direct menace to the US mainland in addition to South Korea and close by Japan.

All through 2022, North Korea carried out a report variety of missile assessments, generally greater than a dozen in a day and check firing intercontinental ballistic missiles that may goal the US mainland.

The assessments have induced concern within the area amid hypothesis that Pryongyang is making ready for a contemporary nuclear missile check launch, contradicting UN sanctions.

This comes as South Korea and the US are set to assemble for “tabletop workout routines” subsequent month to counter the North’s nuclear threats, mentioned South Korean defence minister Lee Jong-sup.

“We’re planning to carry tabletop workout routines in February between defence officers on working technique of prolonged deterrence beneath the situation of North Korea’s nuclear assaults,” he mentioned in a information convention.

Washington and Seoul mentioned they’re in talks to enhance joint nuclear planning and implementation, enhance info sharing and launch the workout routines, however the timing had not but been finalised.

The US and South Korean officers are anticipating that the North might be making ready for its first check of a nuclear machine since 2017.

“North Korea may have its personal inside causes, however there’s no method for our nation or every other nation to know precisely why they’re conducting such provocations,” Mr Yoon mentioned.

He added: “These illegal North Korean provocations can solely end result within the strengthening of safety response capabilities and an additional strengthening of the safety cooperation between South Korea, the USA and Japan.”

The South Korean president additionally confirmed the navy drills aimed toward bolstering the nuclear preparedness of each allies.

The proposed plans embrace “tabletop workout routines, laptop simulations and drills… on supply means for nuclear weapons,” Mr Yoon mentioned.

He added that it’s justified for the US and South Korea to huddle for discussions over the “so-called joint planning and joint execution” as each the nations are “uncovered to the North Korean nuclear menace”.

In late December, North Korea violated South Korean airspace by flying drones throughout the border into overseas territory for the primary time in 5 years, ratcheting up tensions as 2022 got here to an finish.

In response, South Korea fired warning pictures, scrambled jets and flew its personal surveillance gear over the border.

Mr Kim additionally ordered the “exponential” enlargement of his nuclear arsenal this 12 months, thought of to be essential amid hypothesis that it’s growing a extra highly effective intercontinental ballistic missile.

Nevertheless, some consultants have identified that North Korea’s strong testing spree may largely be aimed toward modernising an arsenal that it could in the end wish to use as leverage in future dealings with the US to clinch sanction reduction and different concessions.