'Act first, report later' if provoked: S. Korea's Yoon to Marines
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Yoon has been backed by the United States and Japan since the beginning of his term in 2022 under the pretense of "defense cooperation".
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South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a pre-recorded interview for KBS television at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea, Sunday, Feb. 4, 2024 (AP)
South Korean President, Yoon Suk Yeol, ordered his Marine Corps today to "act first, report later" if provoked, citing increasing threats from the DPRK.
Yoon has been backed by the United States and Japan since the beginning of his term in 2022 under claims of "defense cooperation", including expanding joint drills.
According to Yoon's office, during a visit to a front-line Republic of Korea Marines Corps unit, he ordered, "If the enemy provokes us, adhere to the principle of 'act first, report later' and respond decisively and overwhelmingly without hesitation to completely shatter the enemy's will."
It is noteworthy that he made similar comments last month while visiting a frontline army unit.
Today, coinciding with Lunar New Year, Yoon also checked a multiple-launch strike system, emphasizing the need to be "fully prepared to respond immediately in case of enemy provocation."
Last week, he described the DPRK as "irrational", claiming it will likely initiate multiple provocations, including cyberattacks and drone intrusions, ahead of the South's election on April 10.
The DPRK labeled South Korea this year as its "principal enemy", closing reunification and outreach agencies and stressing that it would defend its land even over "even 0.001 millimeters" of territorial infringement.
DPRK's leader, Kim Jong Un stressed yesterday that Pyongyang would not hesitate to "put an end" to South Korea if attacked, labeling Seoul as the country's "most dangerous and first enemy state and invariable archenemy."
DPRK: Seoul is a 'US colonial stooge'
DPRK leader Kim Jong Un acknowledged the impossibility of forging a partnership with South Korea and directed the reorganization of all work plans involving Seoul and relevant entities in light of the current circumstances.
Kim conveyed this message during the plenary session of the Korean Workers' Party Central Committee, which took place from December 26 to December 30.
Kim expressed concern that actions taken by the United States and South Korea were driving the Korean peninsula into an "uncontrollable crisis" and criticized the US for introducing nuclear weapons to the region. He also noted the potential for a physical clash along the Military Demarcation Line due to the presence of large armed forces on both sides.
Furthermore, he asserted that Seoul is entirely "tainted by Yankee culture" and currently functions as a "colonial stooge" of the US. This, in his view, necessitated a reorganization of inter-Korean relations.
He emphasized that the DPRK's army must continuously be prepared to take complete control of South Korea in the event of a nuclear war between the two nations, including constant readiness to employ nuclear weapons when needed.
