He noted that Seoul has two arguments in favor of developing a nuclear program: a decrease in confidence in the United States due to the appearance of intercontinental missiles in the DPRK and a divergence from the United States in its views on ensuring security policy.
According to Kelly, the acquisition of nuclear status for South Korea may be a way to compensate for differences with the United States.
Earlier, the leaders of the six countries on the sidelines of the APEC summit in Bangkok confirmed that North Korea's nuclear test would receive a "strong response" from the international community.