South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol has denounced a treaty recently signed by Russia and North Korea as “anachronistic” and stressed that his country will boost its defense capabilities.
Yoon made the remark on Tuesday in Daegu during a speech at a ceremony to mark the 74th anniversary of the outbreak of the 1950-53 Korean War.
He said that while his country has moved along on the path toward freedom and prosperity, North Korea has stuck to its retrogressive ways. He noted that the North has been developing its nuclear and missile capabilities and behaving irrationally provocative by sending trash balloons to the South.
Yoon also referred to the comprehensive strategic partnership treaty signed last week by Russia and the North. It includes a pledge by the countries that they will mutually support each other militarily.
The president said the treaty blatantly violates UN Security Council resolutions. He described Pyongyang’s actions as “anachronistic,” and he said that they go “against the progress in history.”
Yoon stressed that his country will boost its defense capabilities. He noted that the South will deter North Korea’s provocations and protect freedom and peace by maintaining a robust security posture as well as its alliance with the United States and others that share its values.
The South Korean military said Pyongyang sent trash balloons to South Korea again from Monday through Tuesday.
It has determined that more than 350 of the balloons were sent. Over 100 of them reportedly dropped inside South Korea. The military said nothing dangerous has been found attached to the balloons.
North Korea has been flying the trash balloons into the South since last month.
The military said it is ready to respond to the North’s actions. It has hinted that it may use loudspeakers near the military demarcation line between the Koreas to start broadcasting anti-Pyongyang propaganda messages again.