What South Korea’s new president means for North Korea

Yoon's biggest challenge is the constant threat of North Korea, which has sped up its nuclear weapons program while test-firing missiles 15 times just this year alone.

SEOUL, South Korea -- The inauguration of Yoon Suk-yeol as the 20th president of South Korea took place at the National Assembly compound in Seoul on Tuesday, marking the start of his five-year term.

Facing an economy hit hard by the pandemic, surging home prices and a politically polarized country, Yoon's biggest and imminent challenge is the constant threat of North Korea, which has sped up its nuclear weapons program while test-firing missiles 15 times just this year alone.

"The door to dialogue will remain open so that we can peacefully resolve this threat," President Yoon said during his inauguration speech. Under the condition that North Korea "genuinely embarks on a process to complete denuclearization," the new South Korean government will present "an audacious plan" to help Pyongyang strengthen its hardstricken economy and "improve the quality of life for its people," Yoon added.

But prospects are grim for a peaceful resolution between the two Koreas. Yoon, characterized as a "man of principle" and "predictability," has repeatedly warned that North Korea's bad behavior will not be rewarded.