President Yoon Suk Yeol and first lady Kim Keon Hee salute the national flag during a ceremony commemorating the 74th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War held in Daegu, Tuesday. Joint Press Corps
President Yoon Suk Yeol strongly condemned North Korea's recent actions, especially its efforts to strengthen military ties with Russia, describing those moves as "anachronistic acts" that defy the trajectory of history, Tuesday.
His criticism followed Pyongyang and Moscow's signing of a comprehensive strategic partnership treaty last week, as well as North Korea's repeated actions of sending balloons filled with trash toward South Korea.
"North Korea insists on a path of regression and remains the last frozen ground on the planet, while South Korea has been on the course of freedom and prosperity," Yoon said in a speech during an event in Daegu to commemorate the 74th anniversary of the Korean War.
He described North Korea's act of sending trash-filled balloons as a "mean and irrational provocation."
Overnight on Monday, North Korea launched approximately 350 balloons filled with waste toward South Korea. It was the fifth time since late last month that the North sent the balloons across the border. According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, about 100 balloons, mostly containing scrap paper and waste, landed in Seoul and northern Gyeonggi Province.
"The North is prioritizing the safety of its regime while neglecting the dire living conditions of its people and ruthlessly suppressing their human rights," Yoon said.
Regarding North Korea's recent agreement with Russia, he said, "It has even pledged to enhance military and economic cooperation, which directly violates U.N. Security Council resolutions."
The pledge refers to the treaty signed by Russian President Vladimir Putin and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un during their summit last week. They agreed that each side would provide immediate military assistance in the event of an attack on either nation.
"North Korea's actions are anachronistic and run counter to the course of historical progress," Yoon said.
"Our military will remain steadfastly prepared to ensure that North Korea does not dare to challenge South Korea under any circumstances. We will respond with overwhelming and decisive force to any provocations from the North."
This marks his first public comment on the agreement signed during the summit between Putin and Kim.
Additionally, Yoon pledged to deter North Korea's provocations and threats through a strong security posture and alliances with the United States and other countries that share the same values as South Korea.
The signing of the treaty between Pyongyang and Moscow has raised concerns that the Korean Peninsula could become a focal point of a new Cold War.
In response, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell emphasized the Washington Declaration as a deterrence measure to address these mounting concerns. The declaration was outlined during last year's summit between South Korea and the United States.
President Yoon Suk Yeol, accompanied by U.S. Carrier Strike Group Nine Commander Rear Adm. Christopher Alexander, left, boards the USS Theodore Roosevelt (CVN-71), docked at a Korean naval base in Busan, Tuesday. Courtesy of presidential office
The Korean War memorial ceremony was held in Daegu this year, paying tribute to pivotal battles in the southeastern city and South Gyeongsang Province that played decisive roles in the war.
It was the first time Yoon attended a Korean War memorial ceremony since his inauguration in May 2022.
Following the ceremony, he visited Busan, where he embarked on the USS Theodore Roosevelt at a naval port, emphasizing the robust South Korea-U.S. alliance and their united defense posture against North Korea's threats.
Yoon is the third sitting president to board a U.S. aircraft carrier, following Presidents Park Chung-hee in 1974 and Kim Young-sam in 1994.
The USS Theodore Roosevelt is set to participate in Freedom Edge, the first military exercise involving South Korea, the U.S. and Japan.
"The cooperation among the three countries sharing liberal democratic values will be another strong deterrent along with the [South] Korea-U.S. alliance," Yoon said.