[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] This Year Marks the 10th Anniversary of Cheonanham... Has the Government Forgotten?

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] This year's 'West Sea Defense Day' event is expected to be significantly scaled down. West Sea Defense Day commemorates the victims of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the Cheonan sinking, and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling provocation, but due to concerns over the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) and the government's lack of willingness to hold the event, the ceremony is expected to be greatly reduced.

According to military authorities on the 2nd, West Sea Defense Day has been designated since 2016 by the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs to be commemorated annually on the fourth Friday of March. It honors the soldiers who died in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong (June 29, 2002), the Cheonan sinking (March 26, 2010), and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling provocation (November 23, 2010), and aims to remind the public of North Korea's continuous provocations since the Korean War and to consolidate national security awareness.

Since the first West Sea Defense Day in 2016, the Navy has conducted large-scale maritime exercises to demonstrate a firm resolve to retaliate against North Korea. During the first West Sea Defense Day, the combined naval forces of South Korea and the United States conducted maritime firing exercises, and in 2017, the Navy alone carried out large-scale maritime maneuvering exercises in the East, West, and South Seas. However, in 2018, the military quietly completed the exercises to avoid unnecessary friction with North Korea. Unlike previous years, the Navy did not issue press releases or promote the exercises. This is why there is an analysis that the significance of 'West Sea Defense Day' has weakened since the inauguration of the Moon Jae-in administration. North Korea has annually condemned the 'West Sea Defense Day' exercises as "anachronistic provocations and unforgivable criminal acts that go against inter-Korean dialogue and reconciliation."

President Moon also mentioned during a briefing on the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs' work plans in January, "This year marks many anniversaries in 10-year increments," citing the 100th anniversary of the Cheongsanri and Bongodong battles, the 70th anniversary of the Korean War, the 60th anniversary of the April 19 Revolution, and the 40th anniversary of the May 18 Democratic Movement as commemorations symbolizing Korea's modern history of independence, national defense, and democracy. However, there was no mention of the Cheonan sinking or the Yeonpyeong Island shelling provocation in relation to West Sea Defense Day.

The Ministry of Patriots and Veterans Affairs also did not mention the Cheonan sinking or the Yeonpyeong Island shelling provocation in its work report. The '2020 Work Plan' of the Ministry only listed the events mentioned by the president, stating the need to raise awareness of the importance of patriotism through projects commemorating the 10th anniversaries of independence, national defense, and democracy.

Inside and outside the military, opinions are emerging that "Although it is the 10th anniversary of the Cheonan sinking and the Yeonpyeong Island shelling provocation, it is appropriate to strengthen and maintain the event internally within the military for morale and national security."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.