President Yoon Suk Yeol of South Korea announced on Thursday that the country will not tolerate North Korea's "despicable" actions. He promised to protect South Koreans with strong military readiness and a close alliance with the United States.
Memorial Day Speech
As reported by Yonhap, Yoon made this statement during a Memorial Day speech at Seoul National Cemetery, following South Korea's decision to fully suspend a 2018 inter-Korean tension reduction pact.
The decision was made after North Korea sent balloons filled with trash across the border last week.
"North Korea -- after firing artillery shells into the West Sea and launching missiles -- recently carried out a despicable provocation that would make any normal country ashamed of itself," Yoon stated.
"The government will never overlook the threat from North Korea."
To counter North Korean threats, Yoon stressed the importance of a strong partnership with the U.S. and working with other countries.
"We will keep a strong readiness and respond to provocations decisively," he said.
"With a stronger ROK-U.S. alliance and cooperation with the international community, we will firmly protect our people's freedom and safety."
Yoon criticized the North Korean regime for rejecting historical progress and pursuing a "backward path" that threatens lives.
He also pointed out the stark differences between the prosperous South Korea and the struggling North Korea, referring to North Koreans as "our compatriots" who suffer from starvation and lack of freedom and human rights.
Recent North Korean Actions
In the past week, North Korea has sent nearly 1,000 balloons with trash to the South in retaliation for anti-Pyongyang leaflet campaigns by activists in Seoul. The North has also attempted to jam GPS signals near the western sea border.
In response, South Korea warned of "unendurable" measures, including resuming loudspeaker broadcasts.
The North has since paused the balloon drops.
