24 June 2017

News Story: Moon vows to build 'overwhelming' defense but keep door open for N. Korea

SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Friday that his country will not hesitate even for a second to counter any armed provocations from North Korea but will also keep the door open for dialogue with the communist state.

"The government and I will show no hesitation in defending the safety of our people and nation," the president said in a ceremony marking the start of the Korean War 67 years ago Sunday.

"Despite our and the international community's efforts to establish peace, North Korea continues to stage provocations and threaten the safety of the Korean Peninsula," he said at the meeting, according to a script of his speech released by the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae.

"Such actions certainly deserve condemnation," he said. "We will maintain our security with a strong Korea-U.S. alliance and overwhelming defense capabilities."

Read the full story at YonhapNews