South Korea warns Pyongyang of “resolute and overwhelming” response if it tries to use nuclear weapons

South Korean President Yonn Suk Yeol warned North Korea on Saturday that it will receive a “resolute” and “overwhelming” response if it tries to use nuclear weapons.

“If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a resolute and overwhelming response from the South Korea-U.S. alliance and our military,” the South Korean leader said hours after Pyongyang launched two ballistic missiles into the Sea of Japan, the fourth such test in less than a week, Yonhap reported.

The launches have further raised tensions between the two countries, as North Korea appears to be preparing for what would be its seventh nuclear test and has recently legalized the use of nuclear weapons in scenarios where its leadership is threatened.

“By making its nuclear weapons policy into law, it is threatening the survival and prosperity of the Republic of South Korea,” Yoon has said, asserting that Pyongyang’s development of nuclear weapons defies the “international nonproliferation regime.”

“The North Korean regime must now make a decision to denuclearize in order to achieve true peace and joint prosperity on the Korean Peninsula,” the South Korean leader added, according to the agency.