Yoon says N. Korea will face ‘end of regime’ if it invades South

Aug 22, 2024, 10:06 am

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President Yoon Suk-yeol encourages South Korean and U.S. service members taking part in the joint military exercise of Ulchi Freedom Shield during his visit tot the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, south of Seoul, on Aug. 21, 2024, in this photo provided by his office.

AsiaToday reporter Hong Sun-mi

President Yoon Suk-yeol warned Wednesday, “We must make it clear to the North Korean regime, which dreams of forceful unification and constantly eyes the Republic of Korea, that any invasion will lead to the end of its regime.”

Yoon made the remark during his visit to the Ground Operations Command in Yongin, south of Seoul, where he received briefings on the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS). “The North Korean regime is the most irrational group on Earth that can stage provocations at any time,” Yoon said.

Yoon stressed the importance of a thorough ROK-U.S. combined defense posture, saying, “Only our military’s strong security posture can prevent them from making miscalculations.”

Yoon is the first incumbent president to visit the Ground Operations Command since it was created in 2019 via the integration of the First and Third Armies.

Gen. Paul LaCamera, commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, and Lt. Gen. Christopher LaNeve, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army, accompanied Yoon on his visit to the command.

The joint military exercise began Monday for an 11-day run.

In addition, a cyber crisis response training involving the government, civilian, and military sectors was conducted for the first time, according to the National Security Office. This follows Yoon’s directive at the 57th Central Integrated Defense Meeting back in January to regularize integrated cyber training involving the government, civilian, and military sectors to support preemptive response systems against cyberattacks. As a result, this year’s training involved the National Security Office, National Intelligence Service, Ministry of the Interior and Safety, Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries, Ministry of Science and ICT, Ministry of National Defense, Busan Metropolitan City, as well as the military, police, private companies, and civilian drone clubs.

The training aimed to secure cyber resilience in preparation for hybrid warfare, which combines cyber threats and military actions, and was conducted at key national infrastructure sites, such as the National Information Resources Service in Daejeon and Busan Port, according to the National Security Office.

Meanwhile, Yoon held a luncheon meeting at his office with diplomatic and unification veterans, including Professor Kim Hyung-seok of Yonsei University and former UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, to exchange views on the “Aug. 15 Unification Doctrine” announced by Yoon at the National Liberation Day ceremony on August 15, according to the presidential office.

#Yoon Suk-yeol #North Korea #UFS