South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Warns North Korea on Armed Forces Day
Seoul [South Korea], October 1: South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol has issued a stern warning to North Korea, promising a ‘resolute and overwhelming’ retaliation from the South Korea-US alliance if North Korea uses nuclear weapons. Speaking at the 76th Armed Forces Day ceremony, Yoon stated that any nuclear attempt by North Korea would lead to the end of its regime.
Yoon’s remarks follow North Korea’s recent display of its uranium enrichment facility and centrifuges, which are used to produce nuclear bomb fuel. North Korea’s nuclear program is banned under multiple United Nations Security Council resolutions, yet the country has also launched several short-range ballistic missiles recently.
During his address, Yoon urged North Korean leader Kim Jong-un to abandon the belief that nuclear weapons ensure security. He emphasized the importance of building a strong military and strengthening security through alliances with the US and trilateral cooperation with Japan.
The Armed Forces Day ceremony in Seoul showcased 340 pieces of military equipment, including Hyunmoo surface-to-surface missiles, the Long-range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM) system, K9 self-propelled howitzers, and quadruped robots. A highlight was the Hyunmoo-5 missile, capable of carrying a conventional warhead weighing 8-9 tons and destroying underground bunkers in North Korea.
The event also marked the launch of South Korea’s new ‘Strategic Command,’ led by Air Force Lt. Gen. Jin Young-sung. This unit aims to deter North Korean nuclear and missile threats by integrating South Korea’s advanced conventional capabilities with the extended deterrence of the US. The two countries have been working to integrate their military capabilities under the bilateral Nuclear Consultative Group to strengthen deterrence against North Korean threats.
Doubts Revealed
Yoon Suk Yeol -: Yoon Suk Yeol is the President of South Korea, a country in East Asia.
North Korea -: North Korea is a country in East Asia, known for its strict government and nuclear weapons program.
Armed Forces Day -: Armed Forces Day is a special day to honor the military forces of a country. In South Korea, it is celebrated to show respect for their soldiers.
South Korea-US alliance -: The South Korea-US alliance is a partnership between South Korea and the United States to help each other, especially in defense and security.
nuclear weapons -: Nuclear weapons are very powerful bombs that can cause massive destruction. They are dangerous and many countries try to prevent their use.
regime -: A regime is the government or leadership of a country. In this context, it refers to the North Korean government.
Strategic Command -: The ‘Strategic Command’ is a new military group in South Korea created to handle important defense tasks, especially against threats from North Korea.
deterrence -: Deterrence means preventing someone from doing something bad by making them afraid of the consequences. Here, it means stopping North Korea from using nuclear weapons by showing strong military power.
alliances -: Alliances are partnerships between countries to help each other. South Korea has alliances with the US and Japan for security and defense.
