South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol delivered a strong message to North Korea, warning that any use of nuclear weapons by the regime would result in the end of its rule. Yoon made this declaration during the 75th anniversary celebration of South Korea’s military.
President Yoon took the occasion of Armed Forces Day to highlight the enduring alliance between South Korea and the United States. He also emphasized the agreements he had reached with President Joe Biden to enhance consultations regarding the deployment of American nuclear assets in the region. These measures are aimed at deterring Kim Jong Un from pursuing nuclear strikes.
Yoon stated, “If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, its regime will be brought to an end by an overwhelming response from the ROK-US alliance.” He criticized Pyongyang for its relentless pursuit of nuclear arms, noting that the North Korean people are bearing the consequences of this pursuit.
“The North Korean regime’s obsession with the development of nuclear weapons aggravates the North Korean people’s suffering,” Yoon added. “The North Korean regime must realize that nuclear weapons will never be able to guarantee its security.”
In commemoration of the anniversary, South Korea held its first military parade in a decade in Seoul, featuring thousands of troops and the latest military hardware, including domestically produced long-range surface-to-air missiles. Unfortunately, bad weather prevented the participation of KF-21 fighter jets and next-generation light-armed helicopters in an airshow scheduled before the parade.
The event also showcased drones from a newly established unmanned aerial vehicle command and underscored South Korea’s 70-year military alliance with the United States.
The morning festivities at the airbase were attended by over 10,000 people, including veterans of the 1950-1953 Korean War from 19 different countries and their families.
South Korea traditionally held a parade every five years to mark Armed Forces Day. However, it was not conducted during the tenure of then-President Moon Jae-in in 2018, as he pursued rapprochement with North Korea.
Meanwhile, North Korea, under the leadership of Kim Jong Un, has staged several parades, displaying its latest nuclear-capable missiles designed to target South Korea and the US mainland.
In April, during a meeting with South Korean President Yoon at the White House, US President Joe Biden asserted that a North Korean nuclear attack on the US and its allies would spell the end of Kim’s regime. He announced new collaborative efforts with South Korea to counter North Korea’s nuclear buildup.
North Korea has characterized Yoon as a “puppet traitor” and has escalated provocations in response to joint military exercises between the US and South Korea.