South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol warned Pyongyang on Wednesday that “severe retaliation” in case of provocation and announced a reinforcement of the country’s defense budget.
“If North Korea provokes, our military must quickly and decisively punish it,” the head of state said in remarks carried by South Korea’s Yonhap news agency.
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After a meeting with the military commanders of the Armed Forces, held in the city of Gyeryong, in the center of the country, the president indicated that the army’s mission is to protect lives, property and territory “at all costs.”
Yoon Suk-yeol emphasized the need to have “a strong defense” to ensure the protection of national security and interests, announcing “a leap forward” in scientific and technological research, through the ‘Defense Innovation 4.0’ programme.
“We need to develop fundamental measures against nuclear and missile threats from North Korea,” said the South Korean president, who also announced a reinforcement of the country’s defense budget.
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North Korea celebrated this year 19 ballistic missile testsa record number.
In March, Pyongyang tested an ICBM capable of hitting the United States, violating a 2018 moratorium on major missile tests.
South Korean and US officials recently said that Pyongyang is close to finalizing preparations for its first nuclear test in about five years..
The country, completely cut off from the outside world since the start of the pandemic, ignored invitations to resume dialogue with the international community on disarmament.
Source: Observadora
