South Korean President Calls for Strengthening Deterrence Against North Korea

South Korean President Moon Jae-in pledged on September 28 to strengthen the country's defense capabilities as part of efforts to force North Korea to abandon its nuclear weapons, saying South Korea would respond to any North Korean provocations with strong sanctions.

South Korean soldiers during a drill in Pocheon on September 19. (Source: AFP/VNA)

Speaking at a ceremony marking Armed Forces Day (October 1) held in Peyongtaek, about 70km southwest of Seoul, the South Korean leader said: "Our government's determination to protect peace requires strong defense capabilities, and we will respond to reckless provocations with strong punishment."

“Without a strong national defense, we cannot protect or build peace,” Moon told some 3,700 top military officials and officers. “Securing our ability to counter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats is our most urgent task. We must further strengthen our Kill Chain preemptive strike system and missile defense.”

In addition, President Moon also called for efforts to strengthen the joint defense capabilities between the forces of South Korea and the United States, but also emphasized that South Korea needs to soon regain wartime operational command over its armed forces because this will contribute to consolidating and strengthening the structure and capabilities of the South Korean military.

According to Vietnam+