[Budget Speech] Yoon: "North Korea Judged to Have Completed Preparations for 7th Nuclear Test"

5.3 Trillion KRW Allocated for Advancement of Korean 3-Axis System Budget
Yoon: "We Will Build a Strong Nation That No One Can Challenge"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Ki-min Lee] President Yoon Seok-yeol stated on the 25th during his government’s budget address for the next fiscal year that "the security situation is extremely severe. North Korea has not only openly declared the preemptive use of nuclear weapons but is also believed to have completed preparations for its 7th nuclear test."

President Yoon made these remarks during the '2023 Budget and Fund Operation Plan' address held at the National Assembly that morning.

Regarding North Korea’s recent unprecedented frequency of ballistic missile launches and escalating threats and provocations, he criticized, "This is a serious violation of United Nations Security Council resolutions and a direct challenge to the international community."

He also reiterated the government’s stance to strengthen extended deterrence against North Korea through the ROK-US alliance and ROK-US-Japan security cooperation. President Yoon explained, "To ensure that citizens can live their daily lives with peace of mind, we will enhance deterrence against North Korea with overwhelming capabilities through the combined defense posture of the ROK-US alliance and ROK-US-Japan security cooperation."

In his speech, President Yoon mentioned plans to invest 5.3 trillion won in advancing the Korean-style three-axis system, including Hyunmoo missiles, F-35A, Patriot performance upgrades, and counter-battery fire systems, pledging to "build a strong nation that no one can challenge."

He also reaffirmed that the Yoon Seok-yeol administration’s denuclearization policy on the Korean Peninsula, the 'Bold Initiative,' remains unchanged. President Yoon said, "If North Korea makes a decision to denuclearize and comes to the dialogue table, we will provide full political and economic support through the 'Bold Initiative,' as stated in my inaugural and August 15th speeches."

He emphasized, "To overcome the severe economic and security situation, there can be no division between ruling and opposition parties. Cooperation in the National Assembly is urgently needed."

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