Yoon warns North it will 'pay a price' for provocations

Politics

Published: 24 Mar. 2023, 14:14

Yoon warns North it will 'pay a price' for provocations

President Yoon Suk Yeol views a nameplate commemorating the sailors killed in the sinking of the Cheonan ship in 2010 at Daejeon National Cemetery in Daejeon on Friday to mark the eighth West Sea Defense Day. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol stressed that Pyongyang will "pay a price" for its reckless provocations at a ceremony to commemorate South Koreans killed during North Korean attacks in the West Sea Friday.

Yoon made the remarks at a memorial ceremony to mark the eighth anniversary of the West Sea Defense Day at the Daejeon national cemetery Friday. He was joined by some 1,200 people including first lady Kim Keon-hee, ministers, military officials, veterans, lawmakers and bereaved family members.

"North Korea is advancing its nuclear weapons day by day and conducting missile provocations with unprecedented intensity," said Yoon. "The South Korean government and military will drastically strengthen our three-axis system in the face of North Korea's nuclear and missile advancements and provocations, and will further solidify security cooperation with the United States and also trilaterally with the United States and Japan."

The three-axis defense system is comprised of the Kill Chain preemptive strike system; the Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) system, which would destroy incoming missiles; and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation plan (KMPR), which would target North Korea's leadership and military command.

"North Korea will surely pay a price for its reckless provocations," added Yoon.

The warning came after North Korea said earlier that morning that it conducted a test of an "underwater nuclear attack drone" as well as four cruise missile launches earlier this week.

"Today, we commemorate the dedication of our warriors who defended the West Sea against North Korea's armed provocation," said Yoon.

"The sacrifice and dedication of the soldiers defending the West Sea will be the cornerstone of freedom, peace and prosperity not only in Korea but also in the world."

In 2016, the government designated the fourth Friday of March every year as a day to commemorate three major clashes with North Korea in the West Sea near the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the de facto maritime border. They are to remember the 55 fallen troops in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong in 2002, the sinking of the Cheonan warship in 2010 and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.

"Korea's West Sea and northwestern islands are areas with the highest military tension in the world," said Yoon. "Our Navy and Marines defended the NLL and our territories with their blood from numerous armed provocations by North Korea."

President Yoon Suk Yeol tears up ahead of his speech at a ceremony marking the eighth West Sea Defense Day soldiers at Daejeon National Cemetery on Friday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The inter-Korean naval skirmish near Yeonpyeong Island on June 29, 2002, which occurred when two North Korean patrol boats crossed the NLL and launched a surprise attack on a South Korean warship, killed six South Korean sailors.

On March 26, 2010, the South Korean Navy corvette Cheonan sank in the Yellow Sea near South Korea's Baengnyeong Island following a North Korean torpedo attack, killing 46 sailors on board.

On Nov. 23, 2010, North Korea's shelling of Yeonpyeong Island killed four people, including two South Korean civilians and two Marines.

"We cannot call ourselves a nation if we don't remember and honor those who sacrificed and devoted themselves to the country," said Yoon. "We will forever remember the great heroes who defended the freedom of the Republic of Korea in the name of the nation."

At the beginning of his speech, Yoon held back tears and was unable to speak for some 25 seconds.

Yoon then proceeded to call out the names of all 55 fallen soldiers to honor their sacrifices for defending against North Korea's provocation.

This is the first time that a president called out the names of the 55 soldiers one by one at this ceremony.

Yoon also paid respects to the fallen troops at their graves ahead of the ceremony.

President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon-hee pay respects to 55 fallen soldiers at Daejeon National Cemetery in Daejeon on Friday to mark the eighth West Sea Defense Day. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

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