Yoon criticizes NK-Russia pact as “anachronistic”

Jun 26, 2024, 09:40 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol boards the USS Theodore Roosevelt, docked at a Korean naval base in Busan on June 25, 2024. He said the visit by the aircraft carrier is a measure to implement the Washington Declaration that he and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted in April of last year./ Courtesy of Presidential Office

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol on Tuesday condemned North Korea’s recent signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty with Russia, describing the move as “anachronistic act” that defy the trajectory of history, during a ceremony commemorating the 74th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War held in Daegu.

Following the ceremony, Yoon visited Busan, where he embarked on the USS Theodore Roosevelt at a naval port, emphasizing the robust South Korea-US alliance and their united defense posture against North Korea’s threats. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is set to participate in Freedom Edge, the first military exercise involving South Korea, the United States, and Japan.

“North Korea has constantly been provocations by advancing its nuclear and missile capabilities,” Yoon said during the Korean War memorial ceremony. “Recently, the North has not hesitated to undertake such mean and irrational provocations distributing trash balloons,” he said. It was Yoon’s first public comment on the treaty signed between North Korea and Russia. His attendance at the memorial ceremony is also seen as the first step in consideration of the recent grave security situation since his inauguration.

Yoon said that peace is not maintained through words alone, stressing that strong power and iron-clad security posture are the way to protect the country and the people while achieving genuine peace. “Based on the stronger South Korea-U.S. alliance celebrating the 70th anniversary, we will continue to protect freedom and peace more firmly in solidarity with countries that share the same values,” he said. Following the ceremony, he visited Busan to board the Theodore Roosevelt, saying, “The South Korea-U.S. alliance is stronger than ever and one of the greatest in the world that could defeat any enemy.”

Yoon said the visit by the aircraft carrier is a measure to implement the Washington Declaration that he and U.S. President Joe Biden adopted in April of last year. “The ship’s port visit symbolizes the U.S.’ ironclad defense commitment to South Korea, including strong extended deterrence.”

Yoon is the third president to board a U.S. aircraft carrier after former presidents Park Chung-hee and Kim Young-sam, according to the presidential office.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #Theodore Roosevelt