New South Korea leader offers support if North denuclearizes

By HYUNG-JIN KIM and KIM TONG-HYUNG
Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s new president says he’ll present “an audacious plan” to improve North Korea’s economy if it denuclearizes. Yoon Suk Yeol made the offer during a speech at his inauguration ceremony in Seoul on Tuesday. Yoon says the door to dialogue will be open to resolve North Korea’s nuclear threat. He says his government will be ready to work with the international community to present a plan that will significantly strengthen North Korea’s economy and improve its citizens’ livelihoods. But North Korea has previously rejected similar offers to provide incentives linked to progress in its denuclearization. Domestically, Yoon vowed to spur economic growth, which he said would heal many of the country’s social problems.