President Park Geun-hye has declared a de-facto shift in North Korea policies.
During her nationally-televised speech at the parliament on Tuesday, Park argued that previous methods and goodwill cannot stop the North Korean regime's nuclear ambitions.

Noting that the North’s recent long-range-missile launch came while the UN Security Council was discussing sanctions against the regime for its nuclear test, Park said the North is recklessly driving without the breaks, making the completion of its nuclear program a matter of when, not if.

Sitting idle, Park said, will result in South Koreans living in constant fear.
Vowing to refuse to be threatened or deceived by the North any longer, the president pledged that South Korea will take the lead in producing strong international collaborations to deal with the North.

She mentioned the ongoing talks between Seoul and Washington to deploy the U.S. Terminal High-Altitude Area Defense (THAAD), saying it is a measure to maintain a strong joint deterrence against the North.

She said South Korea will strengthen three-way cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan, while also continuing its cooperation with China and Russia.

The president also explained her decision to suspend the operation of the inter-Korean Gaeseong Industrial Complex, saying cash that flowed into Pyongyang through the factory park in the border city was used in the North’s nuclear weapons program.

She called the shutdown of Gaeseong only the beginning of the sanctions, vowing to take “strong and effective measures” that can lead the North to change itself.

During her 30-minute presidential speech, the word “dialogue” was never mentioned, however Park warned the North of a possible “regime collapse,” indicating tough and uncompromising tones in her address.

The rival parties showed mixed reactions to the speech with the ruling Saenuri Party hailing it as a call to national unity in times of crisis.

The major opposition Minjoo Party of Korea, however, criticized the president for not explaining sufficiently about the government’s decision to shut down Gaeseong, demanding proof that the North used the salaries of Gaeseong workers in developing weapons of mass destruction.