Yoon: "If North Korea Uses Nuclear Weapons, South Korea-US Response Will End Regime"

President Yoon Attends 75th Armed Forces Day Ceremony
Emphasizes ROK-US Alliance, "Will Establish Strong Security Posture"
On North Korea, "Nuclear Weapon Obsession Increases Suffering of Residents"

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 26th, marking Armed Forces Day, "If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, we will end the North Korean regime through an overwhelming response by the ROK-US alliance." With the security cooperation system with the United States established at the highest level through this year's ROK-US summit and the ROK-US-Japan summit, he expressed his determination to maintain peace through strength based on powerful defense capabilities. In particular, he warned North Korea, saying, "They must clearly understand that nuclear weapons will not protect their own security."

On the morning of the same day, President Yoon presided over the 75th Armed Forces Day commemorative event at Seoul Airport, expressing his overwhelming response to North Korea's provocations by stating, "Only a strong military guarantees true peace."

[Image source=Yonhap News]

This year's Armed Forces Day event was held on a large scale for the first time in 10 years, marking the 75th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces and the 70th anniversary of the ROK-US alliance. Until now, only the honor guard and military band of the US Forces Korea participated, but this event also showcased combat unit personnel and equipment. At the event, President Yoon said, "Our military defended the country with blood against the communist invasion from North Korea," and added, "By unwaveringly protecting national security against continuous provocations from North Korea, we laid the foundation for remarkable economic development." He also highly praised the military, saying, "We have developed cutting-edge fighter jets with our own hands, built world-class Aegis destroyers, and achieved record-scale exports of high-performance tanks, self-propelled artillery, and fighter jets."

He delivered a strong warning message to North Korea. President Yoon stated, "While the North Korean regime is obsessed with developing nuclear weapons, the suffering of the North Korean people is intensifying, and the regime's exploitation, oppression, and human rights abuses against its people continue," and warned, "The North Korean regime must clearly understand that nuclear weapons will not protect its own security."

He also expressed a strong will to respond through powerful defense capabilities and security alliances. President Yoon said, "If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, we will end the North Korean regime through an overwhelming response by the ROK-US alliance," and pledged, "The government will further strengthen ROK-US-Japan security cooperation based on the solid ROK-US alliance and, furthermore, closely unite with allied countries to establish a strong security posture."

He expressed confidence in expanding nuclear deterrence through strengthening the security cooperation system of the ROK-US alliance. President Yoon said, "The ROK-US alliance has been advanced as a nuclear-based alliance," and added, "Through the ROK-US Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), we will build an integrated response system combining the US nuclear assets and our non-nuclear assets."

He also announced the establishment of a 'Strategic Command' to establish overwhelming response capabilities and a retaliatory posture, including the Korean-style three-axis system. This organization, expanded and reorganized from the Nuclear and WMD Response Center under the Strategic Planning Headquarters, will effectively command strategic assets in an integrated manner. President Yoon explained, "The source of strong defense power is the dedicated military spirit and firm adversary perspective of the soldiers here."

Additionally, he promised to improve the living conditions of the troops. President Yoon pledged, "We will drastically improve the service conditions of our soldiers to lead the highest level of combat capability," and promised, "We will ensure support to enhance combat capabilities in all areas including soldiers' pay, supply, meals, housing, and medical care."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is reviewing the troops from a vehicle at the 75th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 26th.
[Photo by Yonhap News]