2023-09-26 05:46:02
SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — South Korea’s president on Tuesday urged his troops to build a “firm military spirit” and train harder, in an Armed Forces Day speech in which he vowed retaliation. immediate response to any possible provocation by North Korea.
There is growing concern that North Korea is working to win Russia’s support to upgrade its nuclear arsenal in exchange for replenishing Russia’s stockpile of conventional weapons, decimated by its war in Ukraine.
“Above all, the pillar of our robust national defense is your firm military spirit, strong commitment and a clear definition of who your enemies are,” President Yoon Suk Yeol told troops during Memorial Day celebrations. the Armed Forces, following reviewing soldiers and weapons systems at a military airfield near Seoul.
“I strongly urge you to train hard every day with the discipline that real combat situations require,” Yoon added.
The president described North Korea’s growing nuclear program as “an existential threat to our people” and said the South Korean military would immediately respond to any provocation from the neighboring country. He reiterated that if Pyongyang uses nuclear weapons, an “overwhelming response” by South Korean and US forces will end its rule.
Concerns regarding military ties between Russia and North Korea grew this month following North Korean leader Kim Jong Un traveled to Russia’s far eastern region, where he held a summit with President Vladimir Putin and visited important military installations.
According to reports, North Korea wants to receive Russian technologies to complete the development of spy satellites, nuclear submarines and long-range missiles. If completed, those weapons systems would pose a significant security threat to South Korea and the United States, experts say.
In his speech on Tuesday, Yoon did not mention the connection between Pyongyang and Moscow. But in his message to the United Nations General Assembly last week, he stated that South Korea “will not stand by” if North Korea and Russia accept these arms transfers, which would violate UN Security Council resolutions once morest any arms trade involving North Korea.
U.S. officials have also warned that North Korea and Russia would face consequences if they go ahead with these banned agreements.
1695708098
#South #Korean #president #calls #strong #army #face #rapprochement #Pyongyang #Moscow
