Yoon Suk-yeol talks tough to North at Memorial Day ceremony

Politics

Published: 06 Jun. 2022, 15:26 Updated: 06 Jun. 2022, 17:01

Yoon Suk-yeol talks tough to North at Memorial Day ceremony

President Yoon Suk-yeol, center right, and first lady Kim Keon-hee, center left, salute the flag in a ceremony marking the 67th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, southern Seoul, Monday. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk-yeol vowed to respond "firmly and sternly" to North Korean provocations Monday, a day after Pyongyang fired eight short-range missiles.

"Even at this moment, North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are advancing," said Yoon at a ceremony marking the 67th Memorial Day at the Seoul National Cemetery in Dongjak District, southern Seoul. "North Korea's nuclear weapons and missile [programs] are reaching a level that threatens not only peace on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia and the world."

Yoon referred to North Korea's firing of eight short-range ballistic missiles (SRBM) into the East Sea Sunday morning, the third missiles test since he took office on May 10.

"Our government will respond firmly and sternly to any provocations from North Korea," said Yoon. "We will continue to develop our fundamental and practical security capabilities while deterring nuclear and missile threats. We will make sure that there is no gap in protecting the lives and property of our people."

The ceremony was attended by more than 5,000 people, including Yoon's wife Kim Keon-hee and conservative and liberal lawmakers. People Power Party (PPP) Chairman Lee Jun-seok didn't attend because he was visiting Ukraine.

Paying tribute to people who died fighting for the independence of the Republic of Korea and defended the country "from the invasion of Communists," Yoon stressed that the "pursuit of the values of freedom, democracy and human rights will make the sacrifices of those who dedicated themselves to the country worthwhile."

Yoon promised to take better care of the families of people killed on the front lines of national security and public safety, recalling service members who died in the line of duty in recent months.

On Sunday, Yoon ordered officials to strengthen the extended deterrence and combined defense posture between Seoul and Washington after members of the National Security Council (NSC) briefed him on Pyongyang's latest missile launches.

The NSC held a meeting presided over by National Security Adviser Kim Sung-han to assess the North's recent actions. Its members described the missile launches as a "test and provocation" of the Yoon administration and condemned them as violating UN Security Council resolutions, according to the presidential office.

North Korea's latest missile test came a day after South Korea and the United States completed a three-day combined naval exercise involving nuclear-powered aircraft in international waters near Japan's Okinawa.

In a joint May 21 press conference after his first summit with U.S. President Joe Biden in Seoul, Yoon stressed that a "strong deterrence against North Korea is paramount" and said there is "no compromise for security."

In a joint statement, the two leaders agreed to expand the scope and scale of combined military exercises and training on the Korean Peninsula. Biden reaffirmed U.S. commitment to "substantive" extended deterrence including a nuclear umbrella and the deployment of U.S. strategic military assets.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]