Yoon's disclosure about South Korea's plan for joint nuclear exercises with the US comes a day after North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un stated that his country plans to develop new intercontinental ballistic missiles and expand its nuclear arsenal

With North Korea attempting to intensify its missile testing programme and expand its nuclear arsenal, South Korea and the United States are planning joint exercises involving American nuclear assets.

South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol stated this in an interview with the South Korean newspaper Chosun Ilbo.

Yoon's disclosure about South Korea's plan for joint nuclear exercises with the US comes a day after North Korea's ruler Kim Jong Un stated that his country plans to develop new intercontinental ballistic missiles and expand its nuclear arsenal to counter the US.

The joint exercises, according to Yoon, will aim to ensure more effective implementation of the US “extended deterrence” and improve the US military's ability to deter a possible attack by North Korea or its sponsor China.

“Nuclear weapons belong to the United States, but planning, information sharing, exercises, and training should be conducted collaboratively by South Korea and the United States,” Yoon said.