SEOUL, 5th June, 2022 (WAM) — S. Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol instructed officials Sunday to strengthen the extended deterrence and combined defense posture of South Korea and the United States in response to North Korea’s latest demonstration of its firepower, Yonhap reported.
Yoon gave the order as members of the S. South Korean National Security Council briefed him on the results of a meeting they held shortly after North Korea fired eight short-range ballistic missiles toward the East Sea, according to his office.
“President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the readiness posture be firmly maintained at all times, and the continued strengthening of the South Korea-U.S. extended deterrence and combined defense posture, including missile defense exercises between South Korea and the United States,” it said in a statement.
Yoon noted that North Korea has conducted missile provocations once every nine days on average this year alone.
The previous day, South Korea and the United States ended combined military exercises near the Korean Peninsula involving a US aircraft carrier.