In response to concerns that North Korea would perform its first nuclear test in five years, South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed the military to “promptly and sternly” react in case of any provocation.
According to the presidential office, Yoon, who assumed office in May, chaired his first meeting with senior military commanders and pushed for robust capabilities to thwart North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs.
North Korea is reportedly getting ready for its seventh nuclear test and has been testing missiles at an unprecedented rate this year.
The military gathering was held a day after F-35A stealth fighters from the US Air Force made their first publicly announced visit to South Korea since 2017 as the allies and Pyongyang engage in an intensifying cycle of military exercises.
According to the presidential office, “President Yoon said strong defense capabilities should be ready to protect the country’s security and national interest as the security uncertainties surrounding South Korea and Northeast Asia are growing more than ever.”
On the sidelines of the NATO meeting in Madrid last week, Yoon met with US President Joe Biden and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. They agreed to look into further ways to strengthen “extended deterrence” in the face of North Korea.
On June 5th, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff said that the North tested 8 short-range ballistic missiles (SRBMs) from 2 locations near the Sea of Japan. In response to that, on the 6th of June, South Korea, and the US launched 8 surface-to-surface missiles off South Korea’s east coast.
Soon after, on June 7th, the US and South Korea both threatened North Korea with a firm response in the case of any nuclear missile testing in the coming months. The Deputy US Secretary of State, Wendy Sherman, stated on that day, and after a meeting with her South Korean counterpart, that any nuclear test would come in violation of the United Nations Security Council resolutions.
Source: Agencies (edited by Al-Manar English Website)
