Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

“Reckless provocation will lead to the self-destruction of the North Korean Government”

President Park Geun-hye said, “Korea will never forget the patriotic soldiers who are dedicated to protecting our country, or the pain of the families who have lost their beloved sons, husbands and fathers who served their country.”

The 1st Day of the Western Sea Protection was held with the theme ‘Complete termination of North Korean provocation can only be achieved through our unified power.’ During the ceremony, President Park said “As I paid my respects at the bed where the patriots who gave their lives to protect our country now rest in peace, I promised myself that the sacrifices of these patriots will not be in vain. This ceremony is a precious opportunity to pay tribute to the spirit of those patriots and restrain North’s reckless provocation, by gathering our unified will.”

President Park said, “North Korea has constantly engaged in provocation since the tragedy of our fratricidal war, the 6·25 Korean War, and those provocations have led to as many as 5,000 military and civil victims. They fired several missiles following the 4th nuclear experiment this year as well, and have declared their intent of launching a nuclear attack against Korea and the US recently through releasing their new model of nuclear warhead. North Korea is attempting to cause chaos in our society through omnidirectional cyber attacks against our government and major facilities, and has continuously been aggravating conflict to split public opinion. We will not be swayed by any kind of North Korean threat. This reckless provocation will lead North Korea to its own defeat.”

The President expressed her determination to solve the North Korean nuclear issue, stating, “We will be holding discussions with the world’s major nations on a solution to the North Korean nuclear issue at the Nuclear Security Summit held in Washington (US) next week. Now we have an opportunity to change the North Korean government, since the international society unites firmly and refuses to accept further North Korean nuclear development and provocation. If we stand back once again, their nuclear ability will become highly developed, which could be an irrevocable disaster for our country and for our economy. Our government will closely cooperate with the international community and handle this situation until North Korea realizes that it will not survive if it does not awaken from its illusion and change itself.”

For Korea's military personnel, the President expressed unbounded confidence. President Park said, “Our officers and men of the armed forces have kept us safe, from situations of security crisis such as land mines and shelling provocations to the recent nuclear experiment and missile launch, with incredible patriotism and a sense of vocation. Please maintain your best fighting power and willpower so that North Korea will never dream of provoking us, now and forever. As President of Korea, I have every confidence in our army’s patriotic spirit, and completely trust and support the judgment of commanders and their men on the front lines.”

The government has set the fourth Friday of March each year as a day to remember the patriots who were killed during the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the sinking of the Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong, protecting the West Sea against the North’s provocations, and this was the first ceremony held to mark this day. Ceremonial events for each case will also be held annually by each military force every year.

By Yeong-Sun, Lee <ys119@dema.mil.kr >
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