Acting President of South Korea visits US-ROK Allied Command

(Baonghean.vn) - Highlighting his role as Commander-in-Chief, Acting President and Prime Minister of South Korea Hwang Kyo-ahn visited the headquarters of the US-Korea Combined Forces Command (CFC) in Seoul on December 16.

South Korea's Acting President Hwang Kyo-ahn (second from right) chairs a meeting with military officials at the Joint Chiefs of Staff in Seoul. Photo: AP.

He called on South Korean and US troops there to maintain readiness against possible provocations from North Korea to address growing security concerns at a time of domestic crisis.

“I urge the US-ROK alliance to closely monitor any possible North Korean provocations and remain ready to retaliate strongly and immediately if provoked,” Mr. Hwang said.

“As North Korea’s nuclear capabilities are growing and becoming more apparent, North Korea has recently conducted drills to attack the Blue House (presidential office) as well as other exercises to show off its force, escalating people’s security concerns,” he added.

In particular, the acting President of South Korea raised the possibility that Pyongyang is engaging in provocative actions to test the readiness of the US-South Korea alliance and cause a change in the international community's approach to the country.

Following Pyongyang's two nuclear tests and a series of ballistic missile launches this year, the international community has focused on pressuring North Korea to abandon its nuclear and missile programs, mainly through multilateral and unilateral sanctions.

Last month, the UN Security Council passed Resolution 2321 in response to North Korea’s fifth and latest nuclear test on September 9. The resolution included a new set of tough sanctions, such as restrictions on coal exports, aimed at cutting off the flow of money to Pyongyang.

Seoul, Washington and Tokyo have also announced unilateral sanctions against Pyongyang.

During a meeting with senior US and South Korean officials, Mr. Hwang emphasized that this alliance is the “most successful and strongest” security partnership in the world.

The meeting was attended by the South Korean Defense Minister, the CFC Commander, the US Ambassador to South Korea and the head of the Blue House National Security Office.

It is known that the US currently maintains 28,500 troops in South Korea, mainly to counter North Korea's provocative and aggressive moves./.

Phu Binh

(According to Yonhap)