Exclusive: South Korea's new leader says age of appeasing North Korea is over

The age of appeasing North Korea is over and any new talks between Seoul and Pyongyang must be initiated by North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, South Korea's new conservative President Yoon Suk Yeol said on Monday.

Speaking exclusively to CNN in his first media interview since taking office two weeks ago, Yoon said: "I think the ball is in Chairman Kim's court -- it is his choice to start a dialogue with us."

North Korea has launched 15 missile tests so far this year -- more than in the past two years combined -- and last month Kim vowed to "strengthen and develop" its nuclear forces at the "highest possible" speed.