Yoon Seok-yeol: "Will Build Defense Network Including THAAD to Protect Capital Region from North Korea's Nuclear Missile Threat"

Democratic Party Responds to Warmonger Accusations
"Government Must Protect Citizens' Lives and Safety"

Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is speaking during his visit to the Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Ganghwa County, Incheon, on the Lunar New Year holiday, February 1. 2022.2.1 [Provided by the People Power Party Presidential Campaign Committee. Resale and database prohibited] [Image source=Yonhap News Agency]

[Asia Economy Reporter Hyunju Lee] Yoon Seok-yeol, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, stated on the 1st regarding North Korea's missile launch, "We will establish a multi-layered missile defense system, including THAAD (Terminal High Altitude Area Defense), to firmly protect the safety of our citizens from North Korea's nuclear missile threats, covering the Seoul metropolitan area and northern Gyeonggi Province."

On the occasion of the Lunar New Year holiday, Candidate Yoon visited the Ganghwa Peace Observatory, located at the northernmost part of Gwanghwa County, Incheon, and said, "North Korea has already carried out seven missile provocations in January alone this year, and as a result, I have considered extraordinary measures to protect the lives and safety of our people." He had previously announced "additional deployment of THAAD" in a brief message on Facebook on the 30th of last month. This visit appears to highlight the heightened security threat due to North Korea's recent intermediate-range ballistic missile launches and aims to rally conservative supporters.

Candidate Yoon also announced that if denuclearization progresses, he will promote joint economic development plans between South and North Korea. He said, "If I am entrusted with the new government, I will normalize inter-Korean relations and strive for joint prosperity," adding, "We will develop a relationship based on mutual respect and mutual assistance." He further stated, "We will pursue unification plans based on national consensus, activate mutual opening and communication between the two Koreas, establish a foundation for free and democratic unification, and expand public participation."

He emphasized that strength must underpin peaceful unification. He said, "Peace is not something to be begged for or shouted about; it must be supported by strength for us to achieve the free, peaceful, and prosperous unification we desire."

He criticized, "However, the word 'unification' disappeared over the past five years. The Democratic Party government blindly supported North Korea," adding, "They deceived our people and the international community by claiming Kim Jong-un (Chairman of the State Affairs Commission of North Korea) had a firm will for denuclearization. As a result, instead of denuclearization, we were left with the worst inter-Korean relations and various provocations, including North Korean missile launches."

After touring the observatory, Candidate Yoon said, "The northern land seems within reach, but thinking of the residents of the northern provinces who cannot visit despite being so close pains my heart. I feel a great responsibility for the prolonged division."

He continued, "Unification is the long-cherished wish of our people. Only unification can heal the painful hearts of the northern residents and North Korean defectors," emphasizing, "Unification must be one that upholds the values of freedom and peace. We must take the lead in paving the way for that unification."

When asked about criticisms that his statements on preemptive strikes or additional THAAD deployment are 'security populism,' he responded, "The Democratic Party calls me a warmonger, but the government's most fundamental duty is to protect the lives and safety of its people," adding, "THAAD is not an offensive weapon. Calling the establishment of defensive weapons a warmonger act is abandoning security."

He further explained, "A preemptive strike is different from a preventive attack; it is an exercise of the right to self-defense at the last stage when irreversible damage is clearly imminent after being attacked, not an attempt to attack first," adding, "Those who label the unavoidable exercise of self-defense, such as preemptive strikes and the establishment of a multi-layered missile defense system including THAAD, as acts of war provocation are not fit to handle national security and state affairs."

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