The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Biz & Tech
  • Auto
  • IT
  • Game
  • Manufacturing
  • Retail & Food
  • Energy
  • Construction
  • Airlines
Finance
  • Policies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Banks
  • Non-banks
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Arts
  • Books
  • Travel & Cuisine
  • Trend
  • Fashion
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
  • K-pop
  • K-dramas & Shows
  • Movies
  • Music
  • Performances
  • Asia Model Festival
Sports
  • Football
  • Golf
  • Baseball
  • Other Sports
World
  • Asia Pacific
  • Americas
  • Europe & Africa
  • SCMP
Video
  • On the Spot
  • Feature
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
Community
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
National
  • Politics
  • Diplomacy
  • Defense
  • Labor & Environment
  • Law & Crime
  • Health & Welfare
  • Embassy
  • Seoul & Provinces
  • Education
  • Foreign Communities
  • Obituaries
Thu, March 4, 2021 | 00:50
-------------------------
N. Korea leader seeks to complete nuclear program by 2017
Posted : 2016-12-27 22:00
Updated : 2016-12-27 22:15
Mail
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
By Yi Whan-woo

Thae Yong-ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, raises his hands after speaking at a press conference at the government complex in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. He defected to the South in August./ Joint press corps
Thae Yong-ho, the former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, raises his hands after speaking at a press conference at the government complex in downtown Seoul, Tuesday. He defected to the South in August.
/ Joint press corps
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un is seeking to complete his country's nuclear program by the end of next year, Thae Yong-ho, a former North Korean deputy ambassador to the United Kingdom, said Tuesday.

Thae, one of the highest-ranking North Korean officials to defect to South Korea, said Pyongyang is taking South Korea's presidential election and the political transition of the United States with the incoming Donald Trump administration into account in setting its nuclear timetable.

"Kim is racing ahead with a nuclear program at all costs by the end of 2017," Thae said during a press conference at the government complex in downtown Seoul. "He believes Seoul and Washington will not be able to stop Pyongyang's aggressive and provocative military actions because of their political timetables."

He also said North Korea will never give up arming itself with a nuclear arsenal as long as Kim remains in power.

"Pyongyang will not give them up even if the country is offered $1 trillion or $10 trillion in return," Thae said. "It's not a matter of incentives."

He assessed that North Korea is sticking to a cycle of military provocations because it knows that China, its largest benefactor, will not push Kim Jong-un too hard because of its national interest.

"China does not want a wave of democracy flowing across its borders, and it is also wary of the closer presence of U.S. military forces if the two Koreas are unified," he said.

This was the first time for Thae to hold a press conference since his defection while serving in London. He brought his wife and two sons with him.

Thae has been integrating into South Korean society since Dec. 23 after being under government protection.

He said he wants to make his activities public despite concerns over possible threats and attempts on his life by Pyongyang.

"It would be an honor if I could sacrifice myself for the unification of the two Koreas," he said.

During a private meeting with lawmakers in Seoul, Dec. 19, Thae was quoted as saying that he decided to defect because of his disgust with the Kim regime after recognizing the "abysmal reality" of enslaved North Koreans under his tyranny.

Thae, who spent decades in the West, including in Denmark and Sweden, said he learned about the democratization of South Korea and its economic development by watching the country's soap operas and films.

Emailyistory@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter









 
 
  • 2 people die after getting COVID-19 vaccine
  • Transgender ex-soldier forced to discharge found dead at home
  • 2 nursing home residents die after getting AstraZeneca vaccine in Korea
  • 'Chinese virus, get out!': Chinese lecturer assaulted in UK amid fears of anti-Asian racism
  • Management of foreigners' ID to be strengthened
  • Hate crimes against Asian American on rise in US amid pandemic
  • [INTERVIEW] 'We fight the gov't for our rights and future'
  • Coupang Eats' new delivery fee policy hits riders
  • Gov't to push for 'quarantine-free corridors' to support ailing aviation industry
  • New virus cases bounce back to over 400
  • BLACKPINK's Rose to drop solo album next week BLACKPINK's Rose to drop solo album next week
  • Ha Eun-byeol, 'The Penthouse: War in Life,' actress denies bullying accusation Ha Eun-byeol, 'The Penthouse: War in Life,' actress denies bullying accusation
  • Brave Girls enjoy belated success on music charts with 'Rollin' Brave Girls enjoy belated success on music charts with 'Rollin'
  • BTS again tops Billboard's Artist 100 chart, sets record as group act BTS again tops Billboard's Artist 100 chart, sets record as group act
  • EXO's Chanyeol to return to big screen with 'The Box' EXO's Chanyeol to return to big screen with 'The Box'
DARKROOM
  • Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

    Bloody Sunday in Myanmar

  • Earth is suffering

    Earth is suffering

  • NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

    NASA's Perseverance rover is landing on Mars

  • Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

    Fun in the snow, sledding for everyone

  • Our children deserve better: Part 3

    Our children deserve better: Part 3

  • About Korea Times
  • CEO Message
  • Times History
  • Content Sales
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Location
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • 고충처리인
  • hankookilbo
  • Dongwha Group
  • Code of Ethics
Copyright