South Korean Foreign Minister: The U.S. Will Inform Seoul of Any Potential Attack on North Korea

The South Korean Foreign Minister stated that the United States will inform Seoul if it decides to carry out a potential attack on North Korea. On April 12, Yang Byung-se mentioned in the South Korean parliament that if the U.S. decides to take serious action against North Korea, including a 'preemptive strike,' it will consult with Seoul. The Foreign Minister did not provide details on whether the U.S. is considering such a plan. Mr. Yang noted, 'In fact, the U.S. is trying to ensure that this does not happen, but in any case, if it is necessary to consider such a matter, we will consult with Seoul.' The South Korean state news agency, Yonhap, reported that the Foreign Minister's remarks came at a time when there are 'concerns' in South Korea regarding a potential U.S. attack on North Korea. Recently, the U.S. has sent an aircraft carrier and a strike group to the waters surrounding the Korean Peninsula. In recent days, several South Korean lawmakers, both conservatives and liberal party members, expressed concerns about a U.S. attack on North Korea without informing Seoul. Meanwhile, as reports indicate a warming of relations between Washington and Beijing compared to the early days of Donald Trump's administration, Chinese President Xi Jinping has also called for a 'peaceful' resolution to the North Korean issue. China is considered North Korea's most important ally. The Chinese state news agency, Xinhua, reported that Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi discussed North Korea in a recent phone call, with the Chinese President calling for the use of peaceful means to resolve issues related to North Korea. Reuters reported on April 12 that nearly 200 foreign journalists have gathered in Pyongyang, North Korea's capital, to participate in the state ceremony 'Day of the Sun'; next Saturday marks the most important state ceremony in North Korea: the anniversary of the birth of Kim Il-sung, the first leader of North Korea and the grandfather of the current leader, Kim Jong-un. There is speculation that Pyongyang intends to showcase some of its recent military advancements at this event. However, North Korean officials have not provided details about the upcoming ceremony. A Washington-based think tank monitoring North Korea stated that satellite images show ongoing activities at the Punggye-ri nuclear test site in North Korea, which may indicate a new test is forthcoming. Reuters, citing South Korean officials, reported that they have no signs that North Korea is preparing for a new test but emphasized that Pyongyang is always ready to conduct a new test.