South Korean President Yoon Seok-yul said on Wednesday that any provocation by North Korea, despite its nuclear weapons, should be responded to without hesitation, his office said. After infiltration by
Five North Korean drones crossed into South Korea on Monday, prompting the South’s military to shoot down fighter jets and attempt to shoot down helicopters, the first such intervention since 2017.
“We must punish and retaliate against any provocation by North Korea. This is the most powerful tool to deter provocation,” Yoon said in a meeting with his aides, including his press secretary Kim Yoon. According to Hi.
“We should not be afraid or hesitate because North Korea has nuclear weapons,” he said.
Monday’s incursion drew criticism in South Korea for its air defenses. Yoon criticized the military, particularly its failure to shoot down the drone while it flew for hours over South Korea.
South Korea responded by sending drones over North Korea for three hours on Monday.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup told parliament on Wednesday that Yun had ordered him to send drones in response to any incursion into North Korea “even if it means the risk of escalating tensions”.
The South Korean military has apologized for its response and said it could not shoot down the drones because they were too small.
Relations between North Korea and US ally South Korea have been testy for decades but have become more strained since Yun’s conservative government vowed to get tougher on the North’s rival in May.
North Korea has also been ramping up its arsenal with several missile tests this year, amid speculation it could test a nuclear weapon for a seventh time.
Earlier on Wednesday, South Korea’s defense ministry announced plans to spend 560 billion won ($441.26 million) over the next five years to improve its defenses against drones, including aerial laser weapons and signal jammers. Preparation is also included.
South Korea will also expand its drone capabilities to three squadrons.
South Korea aims to purchase more stealth jets and ballistic missile submarines and accelerate development of anti-missile systems, the ministry said.
“We will strengthen our response capability to be able to destroy critical facilities anywhere in North Korea in the event of a nuclear attack or the use of weapons of mass destruction by North Korea,” the ministry said in a statement.
Overall, the ministry aims to spend 331.4 trillion won ($261 billion) on defense over the next five years, an average annual increase of 6.8 percent. This year’s budget was 54.6 trillion won.
Defense expenditure is subject to parliamentary approval.