Yoon's Armed Forces Day Speech: "If North Korea Attempts to Use Nuclear Weapons, Regime Will End"

"North Korean Regime Insists on Path of Regression and Collapse"
"ROK-US Alliance, a Genuine Nuclear-Based Alliance"
"Defense Innovation Based on Advanced Science and Technology"
"Ensuring Appropriate Treatment for Devotion to the Nation"

President Yoon Suk-yeol is giving a salute after delivering a commemorative speech at the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Seongnam Seoul Airport on the 1st.
[Photo by Yonhap News]

President Yoon Suk-yeol stated on the 1st, "If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a resolute and overwhelming response from our military and the ROK-U.S. alliance," emphasizing, "That day will be the end of the North Korean regime."

In his congratulatory speech at the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony held at Seoul Air Base in Seongnam City that morning, President Yoon said, "Our military will immediately retaliate against North Korea's provocations based on strong combat capabilities and a firm state of readiness."

President Yoon pointed out, "While we have walked the path of freedom, prosperity, and world peace, the North Korean regime still insists on a path of regression and collapse," adding, "It pursues only power succession, ignoring the miserable lives of its people while threatening us with nuclear weapons and missiles."

He continued, "They have committed lowly provocations such as trash balloons and GPS jamming attacks, and have even gone so far as to assert the theory of two hostile states, denying reunification," adding, "Moreover, through illegal arms transactions with Russia, they are acting against international norms and threatening peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world. The North Korean regime must now break free from the delusion that nuclear weapons protect it."

President Yoon explained, "Since the Washington Declaration last April, the ROK-U.S. alliance has been upgraded to a genuine nuclear-based alliance," adding, "We are building integrated extended deterrence centered on the ROK-U.S. Hapgyeop Group."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is reviewing the troops with Minister of National Defense Kim Yong-hyun at Seoul Airport in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, during the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony on the morning of the 1st.
[Image source=Yonhap News]

He added, "For the first time in over 40 years, a U.S. strategic nuclear submarine has visited Korea, and a B-52 strategic bomber has landed on the Korean Peninsula," emphasizing, "The U.S.'s strong extended deterrence commitment is being realized through action. The government will further strengthen ROK-U.S.-Japan security cooperation based on the solid ROK-U.S. alliance and closely cooperate with the international community to reinforce our security posture more powerfully and firmly."

President Yoon said, "With Russia's invasion of Ukraine ongoing and the Middle East situation worsening, the global security environment is rapidly changing," adding, "In this situation, we must achieve defense innovation based on advanced science and technology to become a stronger military."

To this end, President Yoon stated, "We will further strengthen defense research and development to lead future battlefields in AI (artificial intelligence)-based manned-unmanned complex systems and in the domains of space, cyber, and electronic warfare," adding, "We will also drastically shorten the procedures for developing and acquiring weapon systems."

He also said, "Building a strong military starts with the morale of the troops," adding, "We will continue to improve all service environments, including housing, food, clothing, and medical systems, so that soldiers can take pride and focus on their missions. We will ensure treatment worthy of their dedication to the nation so that they can take pride in their uniforms."

President Yoon urged, "Young soldiers must have a firm sense of national identity and an enemy perspective," and requested, "Please do your best to ensure that soldiers unite with strong mental armament and comradeship and are trained through practical education."

He added, "Fake peace based on the enemy's goodwill is nothing but a mirage," and continued, "Human history proves that the only way to maintain peace is to strengthen our power so that the enemy cannot dare to challenge us."

President Yoon Suk-yeol is reviewing the military units from an inspection vehicle along with Defense Minister Kim Yong-hyun at the Armed Forces Day ceremony marking the 76th anniversary of the founding of the armed forces, held on the 1st at Seongnam Seoul Airport. [Image source=Yonhap News]

President Yoon emphasized, "During the Korean War, our military did not have a single proper weapon, but now we manufacture cutting-edge fighter jets with our own hands, develop military reconnaissance satellites and high-performance missiles, and directly build world-class warships and submarines," adding, "K-Defense has now become a national strategic industry that firmly supports national security and the economy."

President Yoon also mentioned the establishment of the Strategic Command. He said, "We have finally established a Strategic Command that integrates our military's advanced conventional capabilities with the U.S.'s extended deterrence capabilities," adding, "Going forward, the Strategic Command will be a key unit that firmly protects the nation and its people from North Korea's nuclear and weapons of mass destruction threats."