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| South Korean President Moon Jae-in |
By Song Sang-ho and Sung hye-mi
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Yonhap) -- Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon has cast President Moon Jae-in's recent proclamation of a red line for North Korea's provocation as a "political ultimatum," stressing it aims to advise the recalcitrant regime not to go any further with its nuclear adventurism.
On Thursday, the liberal president made a rare declaration that the North would be crossing the red line if it weaponizes a nuclear-tipped intercontinental ballistic missile. Critics called it a "strategic mistake," arguing it could limit Seoul's policy flexibility.
"It is not that the president is unaware (of the criticism about the red line) as it has been discussed many times at the National Security Council," the prime minister said during an interview with Yonhap News Agency.
"I believe he made some sort of an ultimatum politically. (He might have meant) a situation beyond his control could actually take place if the North were to cross it, though he does not want any military clash," he added.
Moon's supporters said the declared red line could serve as a strong warning against the North, which has sharply raised military tensions by launching two long-range missiles last month and hardening its warlike rhetoric against Seoul and Washington.
But detractors said Moon had broken with the long-held stance of "strategic ambiguity," while others noted he failed to note Pyongyang had already passed the line by developing nuclear-capable short-range missiles that put the South within range.
Read the full story at YonhapNews