Yoon: "Ironclad Preparedness Against North Korean Threats... Immediate and Overwhelming Response to Any Provocation"

Attendance at the 'West Sea Defense Day' Ceremony
"We Must Protect the Safety of Free Republic of Korea Citizens"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol attended the 9th 'West Sea Defense Day' commemorative ceremony held at the Navy 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province on the afternoon of the 22nd, to honor the 55 heroes who defended the West Sea. He stated, "Our military must maintain an ironclad readiness posture against North Korea's threats and respond immediately and overwhelmingly to any provocations to protect the free Republic of Korea and the safety of our people." He also urged maintaining a steadfast readiness posture against North Korea's threats.

West Sea Defense Day is a day to honor the 55 warriors who sacrificed their lives in the ‘Second Battle of Yeonpyeong’, the ‘Sinking of the Cheonan’, and the ‘Bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island’, and to raise the spirit of defending the homeland. Since 2016, the government has held commemorative ceremonies annually on the fourth Friday of March. Notably, this year's ceremony was held at the Navy 2nd Fleet Command, the main base defending the West Sea and the home port of the newly commissioned ‘New Cheonan’ warship, which was operationally deployed in December last year.

In his commemorative speech, President Yoon paid tribute to the heroes who protected the free Republic of Korea and expressed deep condolences to the bereaved families who lost their loved ones and the veterans who lost their comrades. He mentioned the ‘New Cheonan’, revived after 13 years as a more powerful escort ship, and the missile fast attack craft named after the six heroes who perished in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong ? the ‘6 Yongsa Ships’ (Yoon Young-ha Ship, Han Sang-guk Ship, Jo Cheon-hyung Ship, Hwang Do-hyun Ship, Seo Hu-won Ship, Park Dong-hyuk Ship) ? along with the formidable Marine Corps that defended Yeonpyeong Island. He emphasized that the noble military spirit and fighting spirit of the 55 fallen warriors continue to protect the West Sea today.

President Yoon stated, "Despite North Korea’s brutal provocations, it continues to threaten the West Sea." He noted that since early this year, North Korea has launched hundreds of artillery rounds into the West Sea and has openly threatened us by calling us ‘the primary hostile state’ and ‘the immutable main enemy.’ North Korea illegally claims the Northern Limit Line (NLL), which has been recognized as the practical maritime boundary between the two Koreas for over 70 years, and is escalating tensions in the West Sea by proposing a new maritime boundary.

President Yoon emphasized, "A fake peace gained by compromising with North Korea’s threats will put our security at greater risk. Therefore, our military must maintain an ironclad readiness posture against North Korea’s threats and respond immediately and overwhelmingly to any provocations to protect the free Republic of Korea and the safety of our people." He also made clear the intention to strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance and ROK-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, as well as to continuously expand solidarity with allied countries and the international community.

President Yoon said, "Despite North Korea’s threats, our people can live their daily lives thanks to the soldiers who are firmly guarding security sites even at this moment." He pledged, "We will take full responsibility and provide support to the families of soldiers who were injured or killed in the line of duty, ensuring that our heroes are properly honored."

The ceremony was held with the actual ‘6 Yongsa Ships’, ‘New Cheonan’, and ‘K9 self-propelled howitzer’?symbols of the three incidents that form the background of ‘West Sea Defense Day’ (Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, Sinking of the Cheonan, Bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island)?arranged as the stage backdrop to declare the will to defend the homeland.

Especially moving was the letter reading by Kim Haebom, the youngest daughter of the late Sergeant Kim Tae-seok, who died during the sinking of the Cheonan. At the time, she was five years old. Her letter expressing longing for her father touched the hearts of all attendees. The ceremony also included a meaningful moment of remembrance through a 'National Roll Call Video' where citizens called out the names of the 55 West Sea Defense heroes.

Veterans and active-duty soldiers sang military songs together. At sea, the revived New Cheonan fired 36 rounds (marking the 22nd anniversary of the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong plus the 14th anniversaries of the Sinking of the Cheonan and the Bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island). In the sky, 22 Air Force fighter jets performed formation flying followed by an aerial split to honor the West Sea Defense heroes and express the will to defend the West Sea. Notably, at the end of the aerial split, an F-35A stealth fighter jet ascended sharply and dropped 55 flares to commemorate the 55 West Sea Defense heroes.

The ceremony was attended by bereaved families of the West Sea Defense fallen, veterans, unit members, and key government officials including Kang Jeong-ae, Minister of Patriots and Veterans Affairs; Shin Won-sik, Minister of National Defense; and Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

From the political sphere, Han Dong-hoon, Emergency Response Committee Chairman of the People Power Party; Yoon Jae-ok, floor leader; and Hong Ik-pyo, floor leader of the Democratic Party attended. Military leaders such as Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, Navy Chief of Staff Yang Yong-mo, Deputy Commander of the Combined Forces Command Kang Shin-cheol, Air Force Vice Chief of Staff Son Seok-rak, and Marine Corps Commanding General Kim Gye-hwan were also present.

From the Presidential Office, National Security Office Director Jang Ho-jin, Public Relations Secretary Lee Do-woon, First Deputy Director of the National Security Office Kim Tae-hyo, Second Deputy Director In Seong-hwan, Third Deputy Director Wang Yoon-jong, and Defense Secretary Choi Byung-ok participated.

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