South Korea acknowledges failure of denuclearization strategy amid North Korean nuclear expansion

South Korean Unification Minister Chung Dong-young stated that North Korea's nuclear capabilities have expanded exponentially over three decades, rendering previous denuclearization frameworks ineffective. The statement marks a formal shift in Seoul's assessment of the security environment, though the specific metrics of the '100,000-fold' increase remain unverified and likely represent a rhetorical emphasis on the failure of past diplomatic efforts.