Yoon: "North Korea's Indiscriminate Provocations... The Three-Axis System Is an Effective Defense System"

"Government Fully Committed to Building a Flawless Defense Posture"... Regarding Rocket Artillery Fire, "Violation of the September 19 Military Agreement"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Baek Kyunghwan] President Yoon Seok-yeol condemned North Korea's complex provocations on the 14th, including fighter jets flying near the no-fly zone, multiple rocket launcher (MRL) firing, and short-range ballistic missile (SRBM) launches, calling them "indiscriminate provocations." He specifically classified the MRL firing as a violation of the September 19 military agreement and stated that countermeasures are being reviewed.

On the morning of the same day, while heading to the Yongsan Presidential Office, President Yoon said, "Yesterday, North Korea mobilized its air force until dawn to conduct a show of force by crossing the southern boundary line set by our military, known as the 'KADIZ,' and carried out indiscriminate provocations including cruise and ballistic missiles." He added, "While there are concerns about this, since the government’s inauguration, we have been fully committed to establishing a preparedness posture against North Korea’s provocations without any gaps."

President Yoon also addressed recent debates over the effectiveness of the three-axis system (Kill Chain, Korean Missile Defense System, and Massive Punishment and Retaliation), describing it as an "effective defense system." He explained, "No country in the world can perfectly preempt or intercept 100% of an enemy’s first strike; if attacked first, one might get hit. However, such an attack would come with the readiness to face devastating consequences." He further added, "The final stage of the three-axis system, Massive Punishment and Retaliation, serves as a significant psychological and social deterrent necessary for preemptively deciding on war."

When asked by reporters whether North Korea’s MRL firing violates the September 19 military agreement, President Yoon responded, "It is a violation," emphasizing, "We are reviewing each case carefully. It is indeed a violation of the September 19 military agreement." The September 19 inter-Korean military agreement, reached during talks between then-President Moon Jae-in and North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un in 2018, aims to end military hostilities in confrontation areas including the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and eliminate the risk of war.

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