Yoon: "North Korea Will Pay a Greater Price if Provoked"…Attends West Sea Defense Day Ceremony

"Immediate and Overwhelming Response to Any Provocation"
"National Heroes Will Be Properly Honored"

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivers a commemorative speech at the 9th West Sea Defense Day ceremony held on the 22nd at the Navy 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol warned on the 22nd, "If North Korea carries out reckless provocations, it will surely pay a greater price." He also emphasized, "Our military will maintain an ironclad state of readiness and respond immediately and overwhelmingly to any provocation to firmly protect the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the safety of its people."

On the same day, President Yoon attended the 9th ‘West Sea Defense Day’ commemorative ceremony held at the Navy's 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, to pay tribute to the 55 heroes of the West Sea defense and urged maintaining a steadfast state of readiness against North Korea's threats.

In his commemorative speech, President Yoon said, "Today, on the ninth ‘West Sea Defense Day,’ we have gathered here to honor the heroes who defended the West Sea with indomitable will," adding, "I bow my head in respect to the heroes who gave their lives to protect the free Republic of Korea."

He continued, "This Navy 2nd Fleet Command is the main base defending our West Sea and the home port of the Chamsuri-357 patrol boat and the Cheonan ship, which defended the Northern Limit Line (NLL) with their lives," explaining, "It is also an important base that strongly supports the security of the northwestern islands and the activities of our Marine Corps."

President Yoon noted, "The Cheonan ship, which was struck by a surprise attack from North Korea in 2010, has been reborn as a more powerful escort ship after 13 years," emphasizing, "It has enhanced anti-submarine capabilities and is armed with cutting-edge weapons, returning to protect the Republic of Korea."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is greeting the attendees, including the chiefs of staff of the three military branches, at the 9th West Sea Defense Day ceremony held on the 22nd at the Navy 2nd Fleet Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He particularly expressed deep concern over the continuous provocations by North Korea. President Yoon stated, "North Korea carried out a surprise maritime attack in 2002, a torpedo attack on the Cheonan in 2010, and shelled Yeonpyeong Island the same year," stressing, "These are cruel and ruthless provocations that cannot be tolerated under any pretext."

President Yoon said, "Since the beginning of this year, North Korea has fired hundreds of artillery shells into the West Sea and has not hesitated to threaten us by calling the Republic of Korea the 'number one hostile country' and 'unchanging main enemy,'" adding, "They even illegally claim the NLL, which has been recognized as the practical maritime boundary between the two Koreas for over 70 years, and talk about a new maritime border."

He emphasized, "If North Korea thinks it can make us yield through such provocations and threats, that is a complete miscalculation," and added, "Our military will maintain an ironclad state of readiness and respond immediately and overwhelmingly to any provocation to firmly protect the freedom of the Republic of Korea and the safety of its people."

He also warned, "The government will further strengthen the ROK-U.S. alliance, the ROK-U.S.-Japan security cooperation, which are the core of our security, and will unite more strongly with our allies," and cautioned, "If North Korea carries out reckless provocations, it will surely pay a greater price."

President Yoon stated, "Fake peace gained through moderate compromise cannot protect the people and will only put our security at greater risk," and declared, "Our government and military will never back down one step in the face of any North Korean provocation and threat."

He promised to take full responsibility and support the wounded soldiers and the families of those who died in service for the nation and its people. President Yoon said, "We will ensure that our national defense heroes are properly honored," and added, "I hope today’s ‘West Sea Defense Day’ will be a precious opportunity to honor the noble spirit of the heroes and strengthen our united security resolve."

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