Yoon: "Protecting Democracy Through Peace by Strength"… Full-Scale Allied Cooperation Targeting North Korea and Russia

President Yoon Attends Incheon Landing Victory Ceremony as First Sitting President
Emphasizes Peace Based on 'Strength,' Effectively Warns North Korea and Russia
NSC, Security Chiefs of Three Countries Cooperate, Multi-Faceted Collaboration Including ROK-US EDSCG

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the Incheon Landing Operation Victory Ceremony on the 15th, becoming the first sitting president to do so, and stated, "We will protect liberal democracy through peace enforced by strength." This reiterated his national policy philosophy that peace relying on goodwill cannot be sustained, and is interpreted as a strong response to the possibility of military cooperation following the recent North Korea-Russia summit.

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon presided over the '73rd Anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation Victory Ceremony' held at the Incheon Port waterway, emphasizing a firm commitment to the ROK-US alliance.

This is the first time a sitting president has directly presided over the Incheon Landing Operation Victory Ceremony, which has been held since 1960. A senior official from the Presidential Office explained, "This was planned as part of the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance to reexamine the historical significance and value of the Incheon Landing Operation and to honor the sacrifices and dedication of the ROK Armed Forces and UN forces who participated in the Korean War."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting attendees at the 73rd Anniversary of the Incheon Landing Operation Victory Ceremony held on the Nojeokbong ship near the Incheon Port waterway and Palmido on the 15th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

In particular, President Yoon said, "The liberal democracy protected by sacrifice is once again facing challenges," expressing his determination to dispel the heightened crisis on the Korean Peninsula caused by North Korea's repeated missile provocations and the North Korea-Russia summit through a strong security system. His call for "responsible behavior" from these countries is in the same context. At the upcoming United Nations General Assembly next week, he plans to issue a warning message regarding the meeting between North Korean State Affairs Commission Chairman Kim Jong-un and Russian President Vladimir Putin and to discuss the matter with key allied countries.

Regarding the military closeness between North Korea and Russia, a government-level cooperation system with allies and partners has already been activated. The Presidential Office held a National Security Council (NSC) meeting on the afternoon of the previous day and warned, "Any acts by North Korea and Russia that threaten our security by violating United Nations Security Council (UNSC) resolutions will certainly have consequences." In particular, NSC standing members urged, "North Korea and Russia must comply with the UNSC resolutions and various international sanctions prohibiting arms transactions and military cooperation."

Statements specifically pointing to Russia also stand out. They emphasized, "Russia, as a permanent member of the UNSC, bears even greater responsibility to comply with the UN Charter and UNSC resolutions." Despite repeated warnings from the international community, the fact that various military cooperations, including the development of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs), have been discussed, sends a clear warning message.

A phone call among the national security chiefs of South Korea, the United States, and Japan was also promptly conducted. On the previous night, National Security Office Director Cho Tae-yong, U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and Japan’s National Security Secretariat Director Takeo Akiba expressed serious concerns over North Korea and Russia discussing various military cooperations despite repeated warnings from the international community. The security chiefs stated, "North Korea and Russia must comply with UNSC resolutions and various international sanctions prohibiting arms transactions and military cooperation, and if violated, they will face clear consequences."

On the same day, deputy ministers of foreign affairs and defense from South Korea and the United States will meet to hold the Extended Deterrence Strategy and Consultation Group (EDSCG) meeting. On the Korean side, First Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs Jang Ho-jin and Vice Minister of Defense Shin Beom-cheol will participate as chief representatives, while on the U.S. side, Bonnie Jenkins, Under Secretary of State for Arms Control, and Sasha Baker, Acting Under Secretary of Defense for Policy, will attend. This is the first time the EDSCG meeting is held in South Korea. Moreover, as it is held immediately after the North Korea-Russia summit, it is highly likely that a broader security cooperation agenda will be discussed. At this meeting, the ROK and the U.S. are expected to express strong concerns about the military closeness between North Korea and Russia. They may also focus on effective implementation measures of the "Washington Declaration," adopted by the ROK and U.S. presidents in April, which includes the U.S. extended deterrence enhancement plan.

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