S Korean leader cites threat from North's missile tests, nuclear ambition

North Korea's spike in missile tests, growing nuclear ambitions and other provocative acts pose a serious threat that could lead to a dangerous miscalculation and spark a wider conflict, South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday.

Speaking with The Associated Press at the presidential office in Seoul, the conservative leader reiterated his call for closer security cooperation with the United States and Japan to counter the dangerous situation being created by North Korea as he played down the prospect for direct negotiations like those pursued by his liberal predecessor.

We've seen a miscalculation leading to serious wars many times in history, Yoon said, adding that the North's advancing nuclear arsenal poses a direct threat to the U.S. mainland as well as South Korea and nearby Japan.

Much of the nearly hourlong interview focused on North Korea, which carried out a record number of missile tests last year and just weeks ago violated South Korean airspace by flying drones ..