South Korea’s new president seeks engagement with North Korea, but Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions, ties with Russia, and disinterest in talks suggest old strategies will likely fail again.

South Korea's nominee for spy agency director said on Thursday he believed the United States would strike North Korea with nuclear weapons if Pyongyang launched a nuclear attack against South Korea. Lee Jong-seok made the comment during a nomination hearing in answer to a question if he believed Washington would strike the North and put Americans at risk from a country even if Pyongyang has deployed intercontinental ballistic missiles.

As North Korea fires a fresh barrage of rockets, South Korea’s incoming spy chief makes a strong claim about U.S. nuclear retaliation. What it means for regional security now.