Presient Lee Jae Myung speaks during a press conference marking the first anniversary of his inauguration at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Monday. Korea Times photo by Wang Tae-seog
The U.S.-Iran war has made North Korea even less likely to give up its nuclear weapons program, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said in an interview published Wednesday.
Lee made the remark in a recent interview with The Economist on the occasion of the first anniversary of his inauguration, adding the "unique personality" of U.S. President Trump can be "very helpful" in bringing the North back to dialogue.
Lee also reaffirmed South Korea's own commitment to nonproliferation, telling the British journal it is "not desirable nor realistic" for the country to have nuclear weapons.
On defense matters in general, he said, "When it comes to the defense of our nation, we must take matters into our own hands," according to the journal.
