Yoon says military must be able to 'eliminate' North Korea's threats

The South Korean military must be able to "eliminate" the sources of threats when North Korea launches "provocations" with its nuclear weapons or missiles, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, right, presides over the second Defense Innovation Committee meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul, Tuesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

The South Korean military must be able to "eliminate" the sources of threats when North Korea launches "provocations" with its nuclear weapons or missiles, President Yoon Suk Yeol said Tuesday.

"We need to establish a military strategy to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, and in the event of such a provocation, eliminate the source of threat at an early stage through an immediate and overwhelming response from the South Korea-U.S. alliance," Yoon said in a Defense Innovation Committee meeting at the presidential office in Yongsan, central Seoul.

Yoon did not specify what he meant by "provocation," however.

He called to equip the South Korean military with "overwhelming response capabilities against North Korean threats" and transform it into a "formidable force" that no one dares to challenge.

Yoon presided over the second Defense Innovation Committee meeting Tuesday afternoon after returning from vacation one day early and focused on reviewing military strategies for possible North Korean nuclear and missile threats.

The meeting further focused on the establishment of a drone command and responses to North Korea's asymmetric threats, according to the presidential office.

Yoon said that the South's military must prepare for asymmetric threats such as North Korea's nuclear weapons, missiles, cyber attacks and unmanned aerial vehicles with the "highest priority" during the meeting.

The meeting focused on reviewing Seoul's military strategy and operational plans and the distribution of financial resources for mid-term defense plans.

Yoon further urged the building of deterrence and response capabilities against North Korea's threats through efficient resource allocations.

The drone command in turn is expected to be launched next month, and Yoon said it is "necessary to have the capability and readiness to immediately carry out missions anytime, anywhere through practical training."

Yoon also asked military leadership to set straight anti-state claims and any distorted views of history that threaten liberal democracy and to strive to build up "mental strength" for soldiers.

After assessing the various security threats facing the country, Kim Seung-kyum, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, briefed the president on South Korea's "joint military strategy," a document that presents the military's mid- to long-term goals.

Kim stressed that if North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, the South Korean military's "overwhelming response will lead to the end of the North Korean regime," according to the presidential office in a statement.

Yoon chairs the Defense Innovation Committee, established under a presidential decree last December, which is also comprised of his national security adviser, defense minister and experts from the private sector. The committee officially launched on May 11, holding its inaugural meeting.

Yoon cut his weeklong vacation short by one day to deal with a series of pending issues, including overseeing the response to the typhoon expected to make landfall in Korea on Thursday and safely wrapping up the World Scout Jamboree, which has been plagued with a series of weather and organizational issues from its onset including the prolonged heat wave and an upcoming typhoon.

The president had been on summer vacation since last Wednesday, after he attended the opening of the opening ceremony of the 25th World Scout Jamboree in Saemangeum, North Jeolla, that evening.

However, Yoon was in touch with Cabinet members throughout his break to give instructions on emergency response to issues related to the Jamboree, including the supply of additional equipment to cope with the heat wave at the campsite. He also ordered the government to provide full support for the Jamboree on Tuesday after being briefed on the relocation of the scouts in light of the typhoon.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]