Yoon warns North against pre-election provocations

Yoon called on the military to pursue "peace through strength," reflecting his administration's view that Seoul must maintain military capabilities powerful enough to deter Pyongyang from starting a war.

President Yoon Suk Yeol, center, smiles as he poses for photographs with reserve officers at a commissioning ceremony at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan, North Chungcheong, on Wednesday. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

President Yoon Suk Yeol warned on Wednesday that Seoul would respond "immediately and overwhelmingly" to "provocations" by Pyongyang before the South Korean general election due to take place in April.

Speaking at a commissioning ceremony for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps at the Army Cadet Military School in Goesan, North Chungcheong, the president said that the North is "highly likely to carry out various provocations and psychological warfare operations" in order to "sow social chaos and divide the public" before the general election.

Yoon called on the military to "unite with the people" to defeat the North's "scheme" to destabilize the South and pursue "peace through strength," reflecting his administration's view that Seoul must maintain military capabilities powerful enough to deter Pyongyang from starting a war.

He also pledged to strengthen security cooperation with the United States and Japan, and in particular, integrated nuclear deterrence cooperation between Seoul and Washington.

BY MICHAEL LEE [lee.junhyuk@joongang.co.kr]