Must respond to North Korea despite its nuclear weapons: South Korean President | World news
South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol said on Wednesday that any provocation by North Korea must be met with unreserved retaliation regardless of its nuclear weapons, his office said, after the intrusion by North Korean drones.
Five North Korean jets crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting South Korean forces to intercept fighter jets and attack helicopters to try to shoot them down, in the first such incursion since 2017 .
“We must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea. That is the most powerful way to prevent provocations,” Yoon said in a meeting with his aides, according to his press secretary Kim Eun-hye.
“We must not fear or doubt because North Korea has nuclear weapons,” he said.
Monday’s attack sparked criticism in South Korea of its air defenses. Yoon lashed out at the military, particularly its failure to bring down the drones while they flew over South Korea for hours.
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South Korea responded on Monday by sending drones over North Korea for three hours.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup told parliament on Wednesday that Yoon had ordered him to send planes to North Korea in response to any attack “even if that means a dangerous threat”.
The South Korean military has apologized for its response and said they could not shoot down the planes because they were too small.
Relations between North Korea and US ally South Korea have been testy for decades but have grown even more tense since Yoon’s conservative government took over in May promising a tougher line with the northern rival.
North Korea has continued with its weapons development with several missile tests this year amid speculation that it may test a nuclear weapon for the seventh time.
Earlier on Thursday, South Korea’s defense ministry announced plans to spend 560 billion won ($441.26 million) over the next five years to improve its defenses against drones, including the development of air-to-air laser weapons and jammers. a signal.
South Korea will also expand its drone capabilities to three countries.
South Korea also aims to buy more cruise planes and ballistic missile boats and to accelerate the development of systems to attack missiles, the agency said.
“We will strengthen our … retaliatory capability to be able to destroy critical facilities anywhere in North Korea in case of its nuclear attack or use of weapons of mass destruction,” the ministry said in a statement.
Overall, the company plans to spend 331.4 trillion won ($261 billion) on defense over the next five years, with an average annual increase of 6.8%. This year’s budget stands at 54.6 trillion won.
Defense spending is subject to congressional approval.