S. Korean president-elect pledges tougher stance on N. Korea

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korean President-elect Yoon Suk Yeol says he will solidify an alliance with the United States, build a powerful military and sternly cope with North Korean provocations. Yoon, a conservative, spoke hours after winning a hard-fought election to become the country’s next leader. Yoon’s single five-year term begins in May. After his victory, he spoke on the phone with U.S. President Joe Biden. The White House says Biden congratulated Yoon and emphasized the U.S. commitment to the defense of South Korea. North Korea didn’t immediately comment on Yoon’s victory. In recent weeks, it has tested a spate of sophisticated, nuclear-capable ballistic missiles.