"Many Things Were Achieved During the Trip" and "Inappropriate for President to Talk about the Independent BAI" Says President Yoon

President Yoon Suk-yeol answers questions from the press on his way to work at the Office of the President in Yongsan, Seoul on the morning of October 4. Yonhap News

On October 4, President Yoon Suk-yeol spoke on North Korea’s mid-range ballistic missile launch and said, “I mentioned it on Armed Forces Day, but a rash nuclear provocation will come across a firm response from our allies and the international community as well as from our military.” This morning, President Yoon met with the press on his way to work at the Office of the President in Yongsan and said, “We will hold a National Security Council meeting at nine, and I will attend the meeting midway.”

The president then mentioned the economic crisis and said, “Times like this call for a calmer response, and the South Korean government exhibiting an organized response to the economic uncertainty can raise the credibility of our economy.” He also said, “The government will always maintain fiscal soundness while tending to the economic activities of the people and reviving our growth engine.” President Yoon mentioned South Korea’s credit rating of AA- given by Fitch, an international credit rating firm, on September 27 and said, “We are two levels ahead of Japan,” and added, “We are experiencing a trade deficit due to the falling price of semiconductors and the rising prices of imported raw materials, but we expect the current account balance to record a surplus at the end of the year. Don’t be too nervous and just carry out your economic activities. The government will thoroughly operate a 24/7 emergency system.”

As for former President Moon Jae-in expressing his discomfort on the Board of Audit and Inspection’s request for his answers to their questions in writing the previous day, President Yoon said, “The Board of Audit and Inspection is a constitutional agency that is run separately from the Office of the President, so it is not appropriate for the president to speak on this issue.” When asked about his thoughts on his controversial trip stirring political strife in the parliamentary inspection, the president said, “The diplomatic activities of the president are solely for the interest of our nation,” and added, “I believe we were able to achieve many things during this trip.”