Yoon made the remarks in his inaugural speech after being sworn in at a ceremony in front of the Soul parliament. He won a close election in March as the standard bearer of the main conservative People Power Party, less than a year after entering politics after a 26-year career as a prosecutor.
Yoon, 61, will face two major issues when he takes office: a belligerent North Korea testing new weapons and inflation threatening to undermine an economic recovery after two years of COVID-19 gloom.
He signaled a harder line on North Korea, warning of a preemptive strike if there is any sign of its impending attack, but his speech was seen as putting more emphasis on his willingness to reopen negotiations. of denuclearization blocked with Pyongyang.
“Although North Korea’s nuclear weapons programs pose a threat not only to our security and that of Northeast Asia, the door for dialogue will remain open so that we can resolve this threat peacefully,” he said. said Mr. Yoon.
“If North Korea truly embarks on a process of full denuclearization, we stand ready to work with the international community to present a bold plan that will significantly strengthen North Korea’s economy and improve the quality of life of its people. “, he added.
Yoon won the election on a platform of fighting corruption and creating a fairer economic playing field, amid growing public frustration with inequality and house prices. , as well as a latent rivalry between the sexes and generations.