By Yoon Sojung

President Yoon Suk Yeol has told CNN, "We are fully prepared for providing all COVID-19 support for North Korea."

In an interview with the American news network aired on May 28, he said, "If North Korea can accept medical supplies in any manner for quick distribution to its people, we are fully prepared." 

The 21-minute segment aired in the evening on the CNN show "Talk Asia" and was filmed on May 23 at the presidential office in Seoul's Yongsan-gu District. 

President Yoon explained the direction of his administration's policy toward the North, the bilateral alliance with the U.S. and other issues.

On inter-Korean relations, he said, "Any new talks between Seoul and Pyeongyang must be initiated by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un," adding, "The age of appeasing North Korea is over."

On if the North will agree to denuclearization talks, the president said, "I think the ball is in Chairman Kim's court -- it is his choice to start a dialogue with us."

If the North conducts its seventh underground nuclear test, he added, "We will respond strongly and firmly to North Korea's provocations," adding, "South Korea and its allies stand ready for any acts of North Korean provocation."

On Seoul's involvement in the Washington-led Indo-Pacific framework, President Yoon said, "I think it is only natural that we participate in this."

"It is in the process of forming the rules for economy and trade in the Indo-Pacific region," he added. "If we don't actively participate in the process of making these rules for economic exchanges and trade, with the countries within the Indo-Pacific region, it will be a great loss to our national interest."

Turning to China’s response to the issue, President Yoon said, "As one of the two largest economies in the world and a world leader, China should also abide by the rule-based international order based on universal values, not only participating in it but also leading the order."

"Even if we strengthen our alliances with the U.S. in security and technology, it does not mean that we think our economic cooperation with China is unimportant. So I do not believe it is reasonable for China to be overly sensitive about this matter."

Switching to his selection of a male-dominated Cabinet, the president said, "When forming the first Cabinet, due to time and other constraints, our choices were mostly those who were known or prominent."

"But in the future, I plan to provide more opportunities to women by thoroughly understanding their expertise and actively following a fairer policy.".

Later, President Yoon nominated four women to head government organizations. He appointed Park Soon-ae, professor of the Graduate School of Public Administration at Seoul National University (SNU), as deputy prime minister and minister of education, and former Rep. Kim Seung-hee as minister of health and welfare.

Oh Yu-kyoung, head of the College of Pharmacy at SNU, was nominated to head the Ministry for Food and Drug Safety, and Lee In-sil, chief of Korea Women Investors Association, as commissioner of the Korean Intellectual Property Office. The two latter posts are vice ministerial level.

arete@korea.kr