South Korean President visits soldiers, orders immediate response if provoked

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol visited a Marine Corps division in Gimpo, west of Seoul, on February 10, on the first day of the Year of the Dragon 2024.

"If the enemy provokes, you must respond sternly and aggressively according to the principle of 'act first, report later' to completely crush the opponent's will," Yonhap news agency quoted President Yoon.

President Yoon Suk Yeol visits soldiers on Lunar New Year's Day

YONHAP/OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT OF KOREA

President Yoon inspected a multiple rocket launcher and urged soldiers to be prepared for any provocations. During the visit, Mr. Yoon also participated in a New Year's call between some soldiers and their families.

Since taking office in 2022, President Yoon has boosted South Korea’s defense capabilities and increased defense cooperation with the United States and Japan to counter threats from the North. He issued similar directives last month and during a visit to a frontline unit in December 2023.

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The South Korean president's directives came after North Korea declared Seoul its "main enemy" and would declare war if even an inch of its territory was violated, while dissolving relevant agencies trying to broker dialogue between the two sides.

In a statement published by the KCNA news agency on February 9, Mr. Kim said that North Korea would not hesitate to end the existence of South Korea if attacked, calling Seoul "the most dangerous hostile state and an implacable enemy."

In addition to the tense rhetoric, both Koreas have stepped up border security in recent months and conducted live-fire drills. According to President Yoon Suk-yeol, North Korea is likely to carry out more provocations ahead of the April 10 parliamentary elections. Mr. Yoon and his People Power Party are trying to regain a majority in parliament for the first time since 2016.

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