South Korea's leading presidential candidate Moon Jae-in said Tuesday that he doesn't think the United States will preemptively strike North Korea, insisting Washington must first consult with Seoul before taking any such action.
"The United States is talking about a preemptive strike as one of the available options, but I do not believe it will actually happen," Moon said in a press conference in Ulsan, 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul.
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Moon Jae-in, presidential candidate of the liberal Democratic Party, poses for a photo during a press conference held in Ulsan, 410 kilometers southeast of Seoul, on April 11, 2017. (Yonhap) |
The US has said all options are on the table in dealing with the communist state amid concerns about the North's imminent nuclear test and missile launch.
The presidential front-runner insisted the US was only trying to bring Pyongyang back to the dialogue table.
"However, it could lead to an undesirable and unfortunate outcome should such talk of conflict be repeated and the United States and China's show of force continue," he said.
Moon's remarks came after the US sent a nuclear-powered air craft carrier, USS Carl Vinson, to waters near the Korean Peninsula in an apparent warning against North Korea over its possible nuclear test.
"No matter what decision the United States makes, we own issues that are related to the Korean Peninsula, and we are the concerned party in the North Korean nuclear issue," Moon told the press briefing.
"No matter what decision the United States makes, it must first thoroughly discuss its move with South Korea in advance," he added.
South and North Koreas remain technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice agreement, not a peace treaty.
Moon, often said to be soft to the North, earlier said he will work to prevent a war on the peninsula with everything he has.
He has also warned Pyongyang that its direct military provocation against the South will mean the very end of its "existence." (Yonhap)
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