Kim Yong-hyun, First Field Unit is the Marine Corps... "No Mercy for the Enemy"

Minister of National Defense Conducts First On-Site Military Readiness Inspection
"The Only Fear Is Failing to Protect Public Safety"

Kim Yong-hyun, Minister of National Defense, visited the Marine Corps as his first field unit visit three days after taking office.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 9th, Minister Kim visited the front-line observation post (OP) of the 2nd Marine Division. He received a briefing on the status of the guard operation and emphasized a firm military readiness posture.

Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun is visiting the 2nd Marine Division on the 9th and taking a commemorative photo with the Marine soldiers. [Photo by Ministry of National Defense] [Image source=Yonhap News]

Minister Kim said, "The ones to fear are not the enemy but the people," adding, "Our military should be most afraid of failing to properly respond to enemy provocations and thus failing to protect the safety of the people." In particular, he stated, "There is no mercy for the enemy," and instructed, "If the enemy provokes, respond sufficiently and decisively under the principle of Immediate, Strong, and Final (즉·강·끝) until the enemy can no longer carry out additional provocations, and report the results."

Minister Kim also encouraged the troops, saying, "You excellently carried out the defector inducement operation on the 8th of last month and the shooting mission on the northwestern islands on the 5th of this month."