By revealing 11 electoral promises on diplomacy and security issues, the former attorney general noted that he will strengthen the Seoul-Washington alliance to send a message of deterrence to the neighboring Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK).

The announcement increases tension in the region and confirms Washington’s influence, clearly positioned against the DPRK. Yoon plans to consult with the US on the process to bring nuclear assets such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).

The United States introduced tactical nuclear weapons in South Korea in the late 1950s and withdrew them in the early 1990s, following a disarmament agreement with the then Soviet Union.

Although Yoon went on to say he will give priority to diplomacy to resolve the conflict with Pyongyang, his veiled threat does not exactly help to pave the way for dialogue.

The leader of the opposition People’s Power Party is Lee Jun Seok, but since he is only 36 years old, he cannot run in the presidential elections in March 2022, because the law prohibits the participation of citizens under 40 years of age in the elections.

For that reason, Lee gave his support to Yoon, who will be the main rival of the ruling Democratic Party, which already suffered a severe setback in the legislative elections this year, when it lost the mayor’s offices of Seoul and Busan.

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