Yoon vows 'peace through strength' at joint live-fire drill

Defense

Published: 15 Jun. 2023, 18:47 Updated: 16 Jun. 2023, 14:26

Yoon vows 'peace through strength' at joint live-fire drill

President Yoon Suk Yeol, left, greets troops, observing the largest-ever combined live-fire drill with South Korean and U.S. forces at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, near the inter-Korean border on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol presided over the largest-ever combined and joint live-fire artillery drill between South Korean and U.S. troops in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, Thursday, the first of its kind in six years, in a show of force against North Korea.

The joint war simulation involving live-fire bombings and overflights by combat jets in the latest show is meant to strengthen deterrence against potential provocations by Pyongyang.

It was the first exercise of its kind since 2017 and also the first time it was held under presidential supervision since 2015, during the Park Geun-hye administration.

It comes as Seoul and Washington commemorate the 70th anniversary of the bilateral alliance 75th anniversary of the founding of South Korea's armed forces this year.

Some 2,500 Korean and U.S. troops from 71 units took part in the exercise, mobilizing 610 military assets including South Korea's F-35A stealth fighters and K9 self-propelled howitzers and the U.S. Air Force's F-16 fighters and MQ-1C Gray Eagle drones, according to the presidential office.

The troops conducted practical maneuvering and live-fire training based on North Korean provocation scenarios and checked their ability to conduct combined and joint operations to realize "peace through strength."

"True peace comes from protecting national security with our own strength, not a fake peace that depends on the goodwill of the enemy," Yoon told troops at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, near the inter-Korean border. "Only a strong military that can fight and defeat the enemy, one that the enemy cannot dare to overcome, can guarantee the freedom, peace, and prosperity of the Republic of Korea."

The Republic of Korea is South Korea's official name.

The drill was an opportunity for the combined forces of South Korea and the U.S. to mobilize their latest land, sea and air weapons to show off their ability to retaliate and destroy a potential enemy.

South Korean and U.S. military forces take part in a large-scale combined live-fire drill at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, near the inter-Korean border on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The first part of the exercise focused on responding to North Korea's potential nuclear and missile threats and repelling a possible full-scale attack.

This included defending against a possible North Korean surprise attack, which included combined forces neutralizing the enemy's long-range artillery by dropping air bombs from a squadron of KF-16s and FA-50s. They also simulated cross-fire in a general outpost area, while South Korea's military mobilized reconnaissance drones and attack helicopters to monitor the situation and conduct precise strikes on key targets.

The second part focused on counterattack operations involving precision strikes with air and artillery power against key targets identified by joint surveillance and reconnaissance assets.

"Our government will firmly defend the country and protect the lives and safety of the people with a solid security posture and practical training," Yoon said.

Some 300 public observers viewed the event, including lawmakers, former military and government officials and defense industry leaders.

The high-profile firepower demonstrations date back to 1977.

"It was an occasion to check the operational capability to realize peace by force" during a hypothetical North Korean attack, said Kim Eun-hye, senior presidential secretary for public communications, in a press briefing Thursday afternoon. "The training ground where today's drills took place was first created by the U.S. military and developed by the South Korean military. So, it can be said that it has special meaning as a place that symbolizes the 70-year history of the South Korea-U.S. alliance."

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, observes the largest-ever combined live-fire drill with South Korean and U.S. forces at the Seungjin Fire Training Field in Pocheon, Gyeonggi, near the inter-Korean border on Thursday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

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