■ Host: Anchor Cha Jung-yoon and anchor Lee Jung-seop
■ Starring: Yang Wook, a researcher at Asan Institute for Policy Studies,
* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN Newswide] when quoting.
[Anchor]
Today, the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces, will reveal weapons to prevent the threat of North Korea.
[Anchor]
It also established a strategic command against North Korea's nuclear weapons.
A military expert will take a look at Korea's defense capabilities. Yang Wook, a researcher at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, is here. Welcome.
[Anchor]
Commissioner, the Armed Forces Day celebration began at 10 o'clock today. I think it'll be different. What do you think?
[Yang Wook]
In fact, we do a street march every five years or something. Of course, the main event of Armed Forces Day is held every year. In fact, I can't tell you that I have such a good heart. In the end, even though we had a street march last year, we will prepare for a large-scale event, including a street march this year, because the North Korean threat is quite high and we need to convey a message about such a high threat. So, although this shows the overall capabilities of our Armed Forces and these things to the people, I can tell you that it has a stronger characteristic of telling the enemy what kind of payment they will receive if they do something wrong.
[Anchor]
We're watching the on-site screen together. This is the view of Seoul Airport where the ceremony is being held. Our Armed Forces Day is designated as October 1st. In fact, the founding date of the Army, Navy, and Air Force is different, so can you point out the reason why it was designated as this day?
[Yang Wook]
First of all, the most representative reason is that on October 1, 1950, the ROK military began to advance northward after defeating the Invasion from North Korea of the North Korean army. But if you look at the dates, the dates are all different. The Navy was actually the first to be established among our land, sea, and air forces. It's called the Liberation Corps, so on November 11, 1945, the predecessor of the Navy, was established. Then the Army's predecessor, the National Guard, was established on January 15, 1946. This was the establishment of the Korean government on August 15, 1948, and then the two organizations changed on August 29, 1948 and the Army and Navy were officially launched on September 5, 1948. Then, on October 1, 1949, the Air Force was established. The original dates were all this different, but in the end, October 1st is the date of the signing of the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty on October 1, 1953, after the end of the Korean War. So, in the end, we were united like this. I can tell you.
[Anchor]
We're watching the on-site screen together. The order now is the progression of the fever. Can you explain what it means?
[Yang Wook]
It started from showing the readiness of the troops to be able to go to war by aligning themselves like this. As the supervisor goes on board, he sees the conditions of all the units one by one. And after that, those troops would later split up, and so they would go through the spray tropics called parades, and show their abilities in that order.
[Anchor]
The current image passed a little while ago, the mixed battalion of the Navy battalion. You can also see the Marine Corps. You're even seeing the Marine Corps wearing a red name tag, and we're going to broadcast and explain the division and parade you mentioned earlier. And in the afternoon, as you said earlier, the city parade is scheduled from Sungnyemun to Gwanghwamun, and isn't there a weapon that will be shown to the general public for the first time through the city parade? What kind of things are there?
[Yang Wook]
We're talking about a variety of weapons.Ma Hyunmu 5 appears in earnest, but it's hard to say that this is the first time. Launched vehicles have already appeared during our city's protest last year. But it's weird to say that this year's focus is...What you should pay close attention to is whether to disclose the missile itself. Most of the time, that's the case.Ma did not disclose the missile itself because it was sealed inside the missile launch tube. In fact, revealing the missile itself is a little burdensome. Because it's the most powerful secret weapon that our military has, in a way, so there are questions like, is it right to disclose it? But I think I'll know what's going to happen in a little while.
[Anchor]
We're showing you the first car passing in front of the equipment unit. Is there a weapon that stands out?
[Yang Wook]
See now.Many cars are very modernized. If you look at the old car or the old car that we call the land truck, there are a lot of mechanized equipment modernized from small tactical vehicles, and as you can see, K9 self-propelled artillery is being exported, K05 is being exported, and then the one in front of it, if you look at it in various ways. You'll probably feel that our military days have changed a little bit from what those who did 10 years ago think.
[Anchor] You're looking at the scene and you're passing by the mechanized battalion after the artillery battalion.
[Yang Wook]
I can see the K2 black-tank right now. As you know, black tarpaulins are receiving tremendous attention through exports to Poland, and K21 armoured vehicles passed briefly behind them. The K21 armored vehicle has been reinterpreted in Australia under the name of redback and is being produced locally.
[Anchor]
You just saw the drone.
[Yang Wook]
If you look at it now, we're called a dronebot unit, so the army is developing a wide variety of unmanned forces. I wonder if that model, which is being shown here for a long time, is probably our new used drone. As far as I know, it will be deployed from this year, but the deployed images are being shown now.
[Anchor]
In the case of unmanned aerial vehicles, are they preemptively detecting them?
[Yang Wook]
If you look at the history of this, Korea is one of the countries that did it very early in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. The U.S. has already used drones for reconnaissance since the Vietnam War.Ma had the ability to spy on this in real time, only the United States and Israel in about 1980. But in the 1990s, we made something called peony falcon and deployed it in practice. But after that, we neglected to develop drones. So in a way, even though it was a very advanced country for unmanned aerial vehicles, there is a regret that it is a little behind now.
[Anchor]
You're watching President Yoon Suk Yeol go back to the podium after just a while ago. Commissioner, isn't there a city parade scheduled in Gwanghwamun Square in the afternoon? Last year, the city parade was held for the first time in 10 years, and this year it will be held for two consecutive years. I heard this is the first time since the Chun Doo-hwan administration.
[Yang Wook]
It is also meaningful that it is difficult to say that what I said earlier is a pleasant thing. Of course, it is a pleasure to see our military demonstrate such prowess, and we should be grateful, but we have the nature of sending a warning message to North Korea to the extent that we have to march the city for two consecutive years. Especially this military parade.
[Anchor]
If so, wouldn't North Korea also be paying close attention to the city parade and the message of the Armed Forces Day ceremony?
[Yang Wook]
That's right. I think there was something like Kim Yo-jong's discourse, but if you look at these parts, there are very sharp contents. I can tell you this. North Korea keeps making negative comments. The reason is why they have to possess nuclear weapons, so they can have nuclear weapons and then even use them. But this is threatening the Republic of Korea and neighboring countries by creating things like why we can do this. In that context, of course, I can say that we are raising our voices of condemnation for the events of the Armed Forces Day.
[Anchor]
North Korea issued a statement under the name of Defense Minister Kim Kang-il. I said that the B-1B deployment in Korea is a bluffing show of force by the United States, and that I will take thorough and corresponding actions against the B-1B deployment today. What are the corresponding actions that North Korea foretells?
[Yang Wook]
You can think of things like what North Korea can do, maybe demonstrate by launching missiles or something like that. In the past, in the case of 2023, when there was a joint exercise between the U.S. and South Korea, it was 2022. In October and November 2022, North Korea fired a lot of anti-aircraft missiles during a joint military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea's air forces. So maybe North Korea is trying to show that kind of response. If it's a corresponding weapon, maybe it's going to show you their own combat aircraft, or something like a surface-to-air missile that can be fired at a very high altitude.
[Anchor]
You're watching the ceremony right now. The presidential emblem is being made. We're watching the award of commendations to the U.S. military. And from today, the Strategic Leadership Department will be established. Can you point out the meaning?
[Yang Wook]
In fact, one of the key points of this year's Armed Forces Day events is the creation of a strategic command. The Strategic Command is the most important unit in the so-called KLPR retaliation operation, in which North Korea is responsible for threatening and attacking with nuclear weapons and retaliating against them. In addition, it is a unit that can carry out operations in so-called strategic areas that can cover the entire Korean Peninsula, including space and cyber operations. Have you heard of NCG in particular? Through the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group, we recently established guidelines by creating what we call joint nuclear constructions between the U.S. and South Korea. The key point here is that the U.S. Strategic Command carries out retaliatory operations against North Korea's wrong behavior with nuclear weapons. As a counterpart to this, I can tell you that South Korea's strategic command is similarly tasked with responding to North Korea's leadership from its wrongdoings.
[Anchor]
After this award is over, President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a commemorative speech. What do you expect today's message to contain?
[Yang Wook]
In the end, it is expected that a large part of the warning against North Korea will be included. In the end, North Korea has raised the crisis to the extent that we are marching in the market this year, and as you know, there has been a new form of provocation recently this year. It's a filth balloon. I hope that there will be warnings and directions about these actions, such as these garbage balloons.
[Anchor]
In the case of last year's commemorative speech, we also noticed a commemorative speech containing the claim that North Korea's fake peace tricks against fantasy and followers would not be misled, but we will see what we will talk about today. If you look at it now, it seems that the ceremony has been completed to award the Presidential Commendation Medal.
[Anchor]
I think they're preparing to raise the stage from the stage right now. The president's message today is also expected to contain a strong warning message against North Korea.
[Anchor]
Since there are so many complex provocations in North Korea, as you mentioned, garbage balloons and missile provocations continue.
Now, the President of Yoon Suk Yeol will continue his commemorative speech. Let's take a look at the scene.
[Yoon Suk Yeol / President]
My fellow Koreans and distinguished guests, I sincerely congratulate you on the 76th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day.
Thank you to the Korean soldiers who are protecting the country and the people without any gaps at this moment.
I would also like to thank the dispatched soldiers who are protecting world peace and raising the status of the Republic of Korea.
In addition, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the martyrs, veterans, and reservists for protecting the free Republic of Korea with blood and sweat.
I would like to express my special gratitude to the military families who have been supporting the soldiers in silence and to the U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. Forces Korea who are at the forefront of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the U.N. Forces Korea who are dedicated to peace in the Republic of Korea.
My fellow citizens, this year's Armed Forces Day has even more special meaning.
Today, a strategic command was created to greatly strengthen our defense capabilities.
In order to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and respond strongly to provocations, the South Korean government has pushed for the creation of a strategic command as a key national task.
There have been many difficulties.
However, as a result of constant efforts based on the stronger Korea-U.S. alliance, we finally established a strategic command that integrates the advanced conventional capabilities of our military with the extended deterrence capabilities of the United States.
In the future, the Strategic Command will be a key unit that will secure the country and its people from North Korea's nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
My fellow citizens, today's Republic of Korea is built on the dedication and sacrifice of our Armed Forces.
When the communist forces of North Korea started the Korean War, our military fought in blood to protect the free Republic of Korea.
Even now, we are resolutely confronting North Korea's constant threats and provocations, and we are carrying out a tremendous mission to protect the country and its people.
When major difficulties arise, such as national disasters, we take the lead in protecting the lives and safety of the people.
The fervent patriotism and loyalty of our Armed Forces have become a strong foundation for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today.
Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big round of applause to our soldiers.
Proud Korean soldiers, during the Korean War, our military did not have any proper weapons.
However, now we build cutting-edge fighter jets by hand, develop military reconnaissance satellites and high-performance missiles, and build world-class combat ships and submarines ourselves.
It has emerged as a high-tech science and technology strong force with strong military and excellent technology.
The tanks, self-propelled artillery, and air defense weapons that we have built have traveled beyond Asia to Europe and the Middle East, showing the true value of K-defense.
Now, K-bangsan has become a "national strategic industry" that firmly supports national security and the economy.
Our soldiers who are dedicated to world peace are also remarkable.
It contributes to common prosperity by carrying out peacekeeping and reconstruction activities all over the world.
These activities of our military are a great help to the Republic of Korea's leap forward as a global hub.
My fellow Koreans and soldiers, we have walked on the path of freedom and prosperity and world peace, but the North Korean regime still insists on regression and collapse.
It seeks only a hereditary power succession, and the disastrous lives of its inhabitants are turning a blind eye to us with nuclear weapons and missiles.
He has carried out low-grade provocations such as garbage balloons and GPS disturbance attacks, and eventually denies unification by insisting on the 'hostile two-state theory'.
Moreover, the illegal arms trade with Russia runs counter to international norms and threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world.
Our military will immediately retaliate against North Korea's provocations based on its strong combat capabilities and solid preparedness.
If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a decisive and overwhelming response from our military and the Korea-U.S. alliance.
It will be the day of the end of the North Korean regime.
The North Korean regime should get out of the delusion that nuclear weapons protect it even now.
My fellow citizens, with the Washington Declaration in April last year, the ROK-US alliance has been upgraded to a nuclear-based alliance in name and reality.
With the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) at the center, we are establishing an all-in-one extended deterrence between South Korea and the U.S.
For the first time in more than 40 years, a U.S. strategic nuclear submarine has visited Korea, and a B-52 strategic bomber has landed on the Korean Peninsula for the first time.
A strong U.S. commitment to extended deterrence is being implemented by action.
Our government will strengthen security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and strengthen our security posture by closely cooperating with the international community on the basis of the strong Korea-U.S. alliance.
Ladies and gentlemen, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not ended and the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated, the global security environment is changing rapidly.
In order to become a more powerful military in this situation, we need to achieve defense innovation based on advanced science and technology.
The government launched the Presidential Defense Innovation Committee in May last year to dramatically expand its capacity to respond to North Korean threats.
We will further strengthen the field of defense research and development so that we can lead the future battlefield in the areas of AI-based complex systems and space, cyber, and electronic warfare.
In addition, it will drastically shorten the process of developing and introducing weapons systems.
The development of the strong army begins with the morale of soldiers.
We will continue to improve various service environments, including food, clothing, shelter and the medical system, so that soldiers can concentrate on their duties with pride.
We will ensure that we treat our country appropriately for the dedication of our country so that we can take pride in our military uniform.
We also need the efforts of our military.
We need to ensure that young soldiers have a firm view of the state and opposition.
I hope you will do your best to unite soldiers with strong mental armament and comradeship and train them with practical education.
My fellow Koreans, our proud soldiers and distinguished guests, the fake peace that relies on the good will of the enemy is nothing more than a mirage.
Human history proves that the only way to keep peace is to build our power so that the enemy cannot cross it.
Strong security and strong military are what the military builds with the people.
We ask the people to give their generous support and support so that our military can devote itself to the country without wavering.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I have full confidence in the Korean Armed Forces.
Once again, congratulations on Armed Forces Day and may infinite glory and blessings be with you in the future.
Thank you.
[Anchor]
You heard the commemorative speech of President Yoon Suk Yeol's 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day. What stands out is that if North Korea uses nuclear weapons, that day will be the end of the North Korean regime. I took it very strongly. How did you rate it?
[Yang Wook]
That's true.Ma is not just a pretense, but this is the common position between Korea and the United States. This was the first time this was mentioned in SCM, the annual security meeting between South Korea and the U.S.This is what the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. confirm. Then, how can the president of the Republic of Korea and the president of the United States talk about that because they are war buffs? Not at all. Because nuclear use is just as serious. I'm saying that if you think the use of nuclear weapons is very funny, the regime of North Korea will be completely eliminated. Because the worst thing for mankind is the situation where nuclear is used for war. If North Korea uses nuclear weapons preemptively, of course, no matter how little damage and how few people there are, as long as it uses the territory and waters of the Republic of Korea, this is an act of using nuclear weapons. If so, this is not the opinion of the Republic of Korea alone, but of the United States, and most countries that want world peace. That's why North Korea is talking too lightly about nuclear use. In 2022, North Korea is a deranged group that puts guitars on the terms of nuclear use in the world while talking about the terms of nuclear use through the Nuclear Force Policy Act. That's absurd. Therefore, I would like to not only warn that nuclear weapons can be used so carelessly and not so carelessly, but also communicate them to North Korea with such capabilities. I'd like to say exactly this. So this sends an accurate message to North Korea, which thinks nuclear threats will work, rather than trying to start some kind of war or cause unrest. I want to say that it's not just a strong message, it's actually sending an accurate message.
[Anchor]
There seems to be a lot of meaning in North Korea that it should develop extended deterrence anyway. Is there anything else that stands out from today's commemorative speech?
[Yang Wook]
First of all, you mentioned the creation of a strategic command at the beginning. after a number of thanks As such, the strategic command was the core of this Armed Forces Day, and if we had relied heavily on U.S. strategic bombers or U.S. strategic assets to deal with the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons, the Republic of Korea has now created a command with its own strategic assets to respond to North Korea's actions. I think this is the most important message at this Armed Forces Day. In addition to that, the message was included, "This is not just how the weapon system is good and sold well, but how the Republic of Korea contributes to peace in the international community and increases the number of allies in the Republic of Korea." And the warning to the North Korean regime, in a way, is really the point. Therefore, it accurately conveyed that if North Korea makes the wrong decision of using nuclear weapons if it does something wrong, it can lead to the end with the existence of a strategic command and the strategic assets of the United States. In fact, I can tell you that today's general event is a message that I want to convey to the people, the world, and even more precisely to the North Korean regime.
[Anchor]
And the core of our defense capability is that there will be a three-axis system. This is the second step. There is a Korean missile defense system KMD. We prepared a graphic. First, it's augmented reality. We've moved to the Korean Peninsula, and the screen you're seeing now is a low-altitude defense system. It's Heavenly Palace 2 and Patriot 3. What is the difference between these two?
[Yang Wook]
In fact, altitudes and things like that are pretty much the same. When you have an end-of-life low-altitude interception, that is, a missile launch, you have an ascending stage, an intermediate flight stage, and a descending stage. Falling and falling is called the end stage, and even at this stage of falling, the altitude is low, so we call it low altitude, where the altitude is less than 30 to 40 kilometers. The altitude is 15-20km, and the Patriot Pac 3 is 30 to 40km, which is slightly higher than that.It's possible. So, through these multi-layered interceptions, we first prevent North Korea's short-range missile attacks. Then, the Heavenly Palace means that the Heavenly Palace 2 is originally M-Sem, so the range is medium-Sem, which means Sulphist Air Missile and Surface-to-Air Missile. However, this Elsem, which is higher than the celestial palace, has been developed now, and it appeared once at last year's military parade, and I hope it will be deployed at the end of this year or next year.
[Anchor]
The screen you're looking at right now.
[Yang Wook]
At an altitude of more than 40 km, so I think it's possible to intercept at an altitude of about 40 to 60 km. Elsem 2, which has improved its performance a little in Elsem, and so Elsem 2, which can intercept at an altitude of almost 100km, is also in the midst of development. In fact, the overlapping attempts are made to prevent attacks on North Korean missiles. If such a system is completed, I can tell you that South Korea's missile defense system may be tighter than the United States. Because in the United States, Patriot Pac 3 intercepts up to 30km and then THAAD up to 120km in altitude. In fact, there are talks that the performance-enhanced version can be intercepted a little higher than that, up to 150 to 200, but we will have to wait and see.
[Anchor]
If it's higher than this, there's SM3.
[Yang Wook]
They intercept outside the atmosphere, in the stratosphere corresponding to the universe. So, in fact, it's almost like a space asset. In the case of remodeling SM3, it is judged that if you do well with satellites, you can intercept them. Anyway, basically, it is not very likely that SM3 will launch such a high-altitude missile toward Korea. So that's probably when we intercept this in Guam or the U.S. military base in Japan or the U.S. mainland or whatever threats to our alliance, and then North Korea might very rarely use, for example, ICBMs to attack South Korea. through a high-angle launch It's used for things like that.
[Anchor]
We looked at the Korean missile defense system through AR. Then, it was the second of the Korean three-axis system, missile defense. Will the strategic command you mentioned earlier oversee these parts?
[Yang Wook]
At first, it was known as a command in which the Strategic Command oversees all three-axis systems. In fact, among our security researchers, it's a bad approach, and among experts, it's been said. Because basically kill chain and KAMD are actions that our military usually does 365 days a year. Then what this is is a system that has to be operated 365 days a year as a Korea-U.S. joint force. It is not highly efficient to operate it separately to the strategic company. Therefore, it is the strategic command that Kill Chain and KAMD continue to operate under the control of the coalition, and KMPR, as I said earlier, retaliate for North Korea's wrong actions, and take charge of cyber, space, and other operational areas that cover the entire Korean Peninsula. So, as I said, it will function as a counterpart of the U.S. Strategic Command and as a key unit to break down the strategic core of such an enemy.
[Anchor]
Let's cut down on the conversation this time.
When the division begins in a little while, I will talk to Commissioner Yang Wook again. Thank you.
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■ Starring: Yang Wook, a researcher at Asan Institute for Policy Studies,
* The text below may differ from the actual broadcast content, so please check the broadcast for more accurate information. Please specify [YTN Newswide] when quoting.
[Anchor]
Today, the 76th anniversary of the establishment of the Armed Forces, will reveal weapons to prevent the threat of North Korea.
[Anchor]
It also established a strategic command against North Korea's nuclear weapons.
A military expert will take a look at Korea's defense capabilities. Yang Wook, a researcher at Asan Institute for Policy Studies, is here. Welcome.
[Anchor]
Commissioner, the Armed Forces Day celebration began at 10 o'clock today. I think it'll be different. What do you think?
[Yang Wook]
In fact, we do a street march every five years or something. Of course, the main event of Armed Forces Day is held every year. In fact, I can't tell you that I have such a good heart. In the end, even though we had a street march last year, we will prepare for a large-scale event, including a street march this year, because the North Korean threat is quite high and we need to convey a message about such a high threat. So, although this shows the overall capabilities of our Armed Forces and these things to the people, I can tell you that it has a stronger characteristic of telling the enemy what kind of payment they will receive if they do something wrong.
[Anchor]
We're watching the on-site screen together. This is the view of Seoul Airport where the ceremony is being held. Our Armed Forces Day is designated as October 1st. In fact, the founding date of the Army, Navy, and Air Force is different, so can you point out the reason why it was designated as this day?
[Yang Wook]
First of all, the most representative reason is that on October 1, 1950, the ROK military began to advance northward after defeating the Invasion from North Korea of the North Korean army. But if you look at the dates, the dates are all different. The Navy was actually the first to be established among our land, sea, and air forces. It's called the Liberation Corps, so on November 11, 1945, the predecessor of the Navy, was established. Then the Army's predecessor, the National Guard, was established on January 15, 1946. This was the establishment of the Korean government on August 15, 1948, and then the two organizations changed on August 29, 1948 and the Army and Navy were officially launched on September 5, 1948. Then, on October 1, 1949, the Air Force was established. The original dates were all this different, but in the end, October 1st is the date of the signing of the Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty on October 1, 1953, after the end of the Korean War. So, in the end, we were united like this. I can tell you.
[Anchor]
We're watching the on-site screen together. The order now is the progression of the fever. Can you explain what it means?
[Yang Wook]
It started from showing the readiness of the troops to be able to go to war by aligning themselves like this. As the supervisor goes on board, he sees the conditions of all the units one by one. And after that, those troops would later split up, and so they would go through the spray tropics called parades, and show their abilities in that order.
[Anchor]
The current image passed a little while ago, the mixed battalion of the Navy battalion. You can also see the Marine Corps. You're even seeing the Marine Corps wearing a red name tag, and we're going to broadcast and explain the division and parade you mentioned earlier. And in the afternoon, as you said earlier, the city parade is scheduled from Sungnyemun to Gwanghwamun, and isn't there a weapon that will be shown to the general public for the first time through the city parade? What kind of things are there?
[Yang Wook]
We're talking about a variety of weapons.Ma Hyunmu 5 appears in earnest, but it's hard to say that this is the first time. Launched vehicles have already appeared during our city's protest last year. But it's weird to say that this year's focus is...What you should pay close attention to is whether to disclose the missile itself. Most of the time, that's the case.Ma did not disclose the missile itself because it was sealed inside the missile launch tube. In fact, revealing the missile itself is a little burdensome. Because it's the most powerful secret weapon that our military has, in a way, so there are questions like, is it right to disclose it? But I think I'll know what's going to happen in a little while.
[Anchor]
We're showing you the first car passing in front of the equipment unit. Is there a weapon that stands out?
[Yang Wook]
See now.Many cars are very modernized. If you look at the old car or the old car that we call the land truck, there are a lot of mechanized equipment modernized from small tactical vehicles, and as you can see, K9 self-propelled artillery is being exported, K05 is being exported, and then the one in front of it, if you look at it in various ways. You'll probably feel that our military days have changed a little bit from what those who did 10 years ago think.
[Anchor] You're looking at the scene and you're passing by the mechanized battalion after the artillery battalion.
[Yang Wook]
I can see the K2 black-tank right now. As you know, black tarpaulins are receiving tremendous attention through exports to Poland, and K21 armoured vehicles passed briefly behind them. The K21 armored vehicle has been reinterpreted in Australia under the name of redback and is being produced locally.
[Anchor]
You just saw the drone.
[Yang Wook]
If you look at it now, we're called a dronebot unit, so the army is developing a wide variety of unmanned forces. I wonder if that model, which is being shown here for a long time, is probably our new used drone. As far as I know, it will be deployed from this year, but the deployed images are being shown now.
[Anchor]
In the case of unmanned aerial vehicles, are they preemptively detecting them?
[Yang Wook]
If you look at the history of this, Korea is one of the countries that did it very early in the development of unmanned aerial vehicles. The U.S. has already used drones for reconnaissance since the Vietnam War.Ma had the ability to spy on this in real time, only the United States and Israel in about 1980. But in the 1990s, we made something called peony falcon and deployed it in practice. But after that, we neglected to develop drones. So in a way, even though it was a very advanced country for unmanned aerial vehicles, there is a regret that it is a little behind now.
[Anchor]
You're watching President Yoon Suk Yeol go back to the podium after just a while ago. Commissioner, isn't there a city parade scheduled in Gwanghwamun Square in the afternoon? Last year, the city parade was held for the first time in 10 years, and this year it will be held for two consecutive years. I heard this is the first time since the Chun Doo-hwan administration.
[Yang Wook]
It is also meaningful that it is difficult to say that what I said earlier is a pleasant thing. Of course, it is a pleasure to see our military demonstrate such prowess, and we should be grateful, but we have the nature of sending a warning message to North Korea to the extent that we have to march the city for two consecutive years. Especially this military parade.
[Anchor]
If so, wouldn't North Korea also be paying close attention to the city parade and the message of the Armed Forces Day ceremony?
[Yang Wook]
That's right. I think there was something like Kim Yo-jong's discourse, but if you look at these parts, there are very sharp contents. I can tell you this. North Korea keeps making negative comments. The reason is why they have to possess nuclear weapons, so they can have nuclear weapons and then even use them. But this is threatening the Republic of Korea and neighboring countries by creating things like why we can do this. In that context, of course, I can say that we are raising our voices of condemnation for the events of the Armed Forces Day.
[Anchor]
North Korea issued a statement under the name of Defense Minister Kim Kang-il. I said that the B-1B deployment in Korea is a bluffing show of force by the United States, and that I will take thorough and corresponding actions against the B-1B deployment today. What are the corresponding actions that North Korea foretells?
[Yang Wook]
You can think of things like what North Korea can do, maybe demonstrate by launching missiles or something like that. In the past, in the case of 2023, when there was a joint exercise between the U.S. and South Korea, it was 2022. In October and November 2022, North Korea fired a lot of anti-aircraft missiles during a joint military exercise between the U.S. and South Korea's air forces. So maybe North Korea is trying to show that kind of response. If it's a corresponding weapon, maybe it's going to show you their own combat aircraft, or something like a surface-to-air missile that can be fired at a very high altitude.
[Anchor]
You're watching the ceremony right now. The presidential emblem is being made. We're watching the award of commendations to the U.S. military. And from today, the Strategic Leadership Department will be established. Can you point out the meaning?
[Yang Wook]
In fact, one of the key points of this year's Armed Forces Day events is the creation of a strategic command. The Strategic Command is the most important unit in the so-called KLPR retaliation operation, in which North Korea is responsible for threatening and attacking with nuclear weapons and retaliating against them. In addition, it is a unit that can carry out operations in so-called strategic areas that can cover the entire Korean Peninsula, including space and cyber operations. Have you heard of NCG in particular? Through the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group, we recently established guidelines by creating what we call joint nuclear constructions between the U.S. and South Korea. The key point here is that the U.S. Strategic Command carries out retaliatory operations against North Korea's wrong behavior with nuclear weapons. As a counterpart to this, I can tell you that South Korea's strategic command is similarly tasked with responding to North Korea's leadership from its wrongdoings.
[Anchor]
After this award is over, President Yoon Suk Yeol will make a commemorative speech. What do you expect today's message to contain?
[Yang Wook]
In the end, it is expected that a large part of the warning against North Korea will be included. In the end, North Korea has raised the crisis to the extent that we are marching in the market this year, and as you know, there has been a new form of provocation recently this year. It's a filth balloon. I hope that there will be warnings and directions about these actions, such as these garbage balloons.
[Anchor]
In the case of last year's commemorative speech, we also noticed a commemorative speech containing the claim that North Korea's fake peace tricks against fantasy and followers would not be misled, but we will see what we will talk about today. If you look at it now, it seems that the ceremony has been completed to award the Presidential Commendation Medal.
[Anchor]
I think they're preparing to raise the stage from the stage right now. The president's message today is also expected to contain a strong warning message against North Korea.
[Anchor]
Since there are so many complex provocations in North Korea, as you mentioned, garbage balloons and missile provocations continue.
Now, the President of Yoon Suk Yeol will continue his commemorative speech. Let's take a look at the scene.
[Yoon Suk Yeol / President]
My fellow Koreans and distinguished guests, I sincerely congratulate you on the 76th anniversary of the Armed Forces Day.
Thank you to the Korean soldiers who are protecting the country and the people without any gaps at this moment.
I would also like to thank the dispatched soldiers who are protecting world peace and raising the status of the Republic of Korea.
In addition, I would like to express my respect and gratitude to the martyrs, veterans, and reservists for protecting the free Republic of Korea with blood and sweat.
I would like to express my special gratitude to the military families who have been supporting the soldiers in silence and to the U.S. Forces Korea and the U.S. Forces Korea who are at the forefront of the Korea-U.S. alliance and the U.N. Forces Korea who are dedicated to peace in the Republic of Korea.
My fellow citizens, this year's Armed Forces Day has even more special meaning.
Today, a strategic command was created to greatly strengthen our defense capabilities.
In order to curb North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and respond strongly to provocations, the South Korean government has pushed for the creation of a strategic command as a key national task.
There have been many difficulties.
However, as a result of constant efforts based on the stronger Korea-U.S. alliance, we finally established a strategic command that integrates the advanced conventional capabilities of our military with the extended deterrence capabilities of the United States.
In the future, the Strategic Command will be a key unit that will secure the country and its people from North Korea's nuclear weapons and weapons of mass destruction.
My fellow citizens, today's Republic of Korea is built on the dedication and sacrifice of our Armed Forces.
When the communist forces of North Korea started the Korean War, our military fought in blood to protect the free Republic of Korea.
Even now, we are resolutely confronting North Korea's constant threats and provocations, and we are carrying out a tremendous mission to protect the country and its people.
When major difficulties arise, such as national disasters, we take the lead in protecting the lives and safety of the people.
The fervent patriotism and loyalty of our Armed Forces have become a strong foundation for the freedom and prosperity we enjoy today.
Ladies and gentlemen, please give a big round of applause to our soldiers.
Proud Korean soldiers, during the Korean War, our military did not have any proper weapons.
However, now we build cutting-edge fighter jets by hand, develop military reconnaissance satellites and high-performance missiles, and build world-class combat ships and submarines ourselves.
It has emerged as a high-tech science and technology strong force with strong military and excellent technology.
The tanks, self-propelled artillery, and air defense weapons that we have built have traveled beyond Asia to Europe and the Middle East, showing the true value of K-defense.
Now, K-bangsan has become a "national strategic industry" that firmly supports national security and the economy.
Our soldiers who are dedicated to world peace are also remarkable.
It contributes to common prosperity by carrying out peacekeeping and reconstruction activities all over the world.
These activities of our military are a great help to the Republic of Korea's leap forward as a global hub.
My fellow Koreans and soldiers, we have walked on the path of freedom and prosperity and world peace, but the North Korean regime still insists on regression and collapse.
It seeks only a hereditary power succession, and the disastrous lives of its inhabitants are turning a blind eye to us with nuclear weapons and missiles.
He has carried out low-grade provocations such as garbage balloons and GPS disturbance attacks, and eventually denies unification by insisting on the 'hostile two-state theory'.
Moreover, the illegal arms trade with Russia runs counter to international norms and threatens peace on the Korean Peninsula and the world.
Our military will immediately retaliate against North Korea's provocations based on its strong combat capabilities and solid preparedness.
If North Korea attempts to use nuclear weapons, it will face a decisive and overwhelming response from our military and the Korea-U.S. alliance.
It will be the day of the end of the North Korean regime.
The North Korean regime should get out of the delusion that nuclear weapons protect it even now.
My fellow citizens, with the Washington Declaration in April last year, the ROK-US alliance has been upgraded to a nuclear-based alliance in name and reality.
With the Korea-U.S. Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) at the center, we are establishing an all-in-one extended deterrence between South Korea and the U.S.
For the first time in more than 40 years, a U.S. strategic nuclear submarine has visited Korea, and a B-52 strategic bomber has landed on the Korean Peninsula for the first time.
A strong U.S. commitment to extended deterrence is being implemented by action.
Our government will strengthen security cooperation among South Korea, the U.S. and Japan and strengthen our security posture by closely cooperating with the international community on the basis of the strong Korea-U.S. alliance.
Ladies and gentlemen, as Russia's invasion of Ukraine has not ended and the situation in the Middle East has deteriorated, the global security environment is changing rapidly.
In order to become a more powerful military in this situation, we need to achieve defense innovation based on advanced science and technology.
The government launched the Presidential Defense Innovation Committee in May last year to dramatically expand its capacity to respond to North Korean threats.
We will further strengthen the field of defense research and development so that we can lead the future battlefield in the areas of AI-based complex systems and space, cyber, and electronic warfare.
In addition, it will drastically shorten the process of developing and introducing weapons systems.
The development of the strong army begins with the morale of soldiers.
We will continue to improve various service environments, including food, clothing, shelter and the medical system, so that soldiers can concentrate on their duties with pride.
We will ensure that we treat our country appropriately for the dedication of our country so that we can take pride in our military uniform.
We also need the efforts of our military.
We need to ensure that young soldiers have a firm view of the state and opposition.
I hope you will do your best to unite soldiers with strong mental armament and comradeship and train them with practical education.
My fellow Koreans, our proud soldiers and distinguished guests, the fake peace that relies on the good will of the enemy is nothing more than a mirage.
Human history proves that the only way to keep peace is to build our power so that the enemy cannot cross it.
Strong security and strong military are what the military builds with the people.
We ask the people to give their generous support and support so that our military can devote itself to the country without wavering.
As the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, I have full confidence in the Korean Armed Forces.
Once again, congratulations on Armed Forces Day and may infinite glory and blessings be with you in the future.
Thank you.
[Anchor]
You heard the commemorative speech of President Yoon Suk Yeol's 76th anniversary of Armed Forces Day. What stands out is that if North Korea uses nuclear weapons, that day will be the end of the North Korean regime. I took it very strongly. How did you rate it?
[Yang Wook]
That's true.Ma is not just a pretense, but this is the common position between Korea and the United States. This was the first time this was mentioned in SCM, the annual security meeting between South Korea and the U.S.This is what the leaders of South Korea and the U.S. confirm. Then, how can the president of the Republic of Korea and the president of the United States talk about that because they are war buffs? Not at all. Because nuclear use is just as serious. I'm saying that if you think the use of nuclear weapons is very funny, the regime of North Korea will be completely eliminated. Because the worst thing for mankind is the situation where nuclear is used for war. If North Korea uses nuclear weapons preemptively, of course, no matter how little damage and how few people there are, as long as it uses the territory and waters of the Republic of Korea, this is an act of using nuclear weapons. If so, this is not the opinion of the Republic of Korea alone, but of the United States, and most countries that want world peace. That's why North Korea is talking too lightly about nuclear use. In 2022, North Korea is a deranged group that puts guitars on the terms of nuclear use in the world while talking about the terms of nuclear use through the Nuclear Force Policy Act. That's absurd. Therefore, I would like to not only warn that nuclear weapons can be used so carelessly and not so carelessly, but also communicate them to North Korea with such capabilities. I'd like to say exactly this. So this sends an accurate message to North Korea, which thinks nuclear threats will work, rather than trying to start some kind of war or cause unrest. I want to say that it's not just a strong message, it's actually sending an accurate message.
[Anchor]
There seems to be a lot of meaning in North Korea that it should develop extended deterrence anyway. Is there anything else that stands out from today's commemorative speech?
[Yang Wook]
First of all, you mentioned the creation of a strategic command at the beginning. after a number of thanks As such, the strategic command was the core of this Armed Forces Day, and if we had relied heavily on U.S. strategic bombers or U.S. strategic assets to deal with the threat of North Korea's nuclear weapons, the Republic of Korea has now created a command with its own strategic assets to respond to North Korea's actions. I think this is the most important message at this Armed Forces Day. In addition to that, the message was included, "This is not just how the weapon system is good and sold well, but how the Republic of Korea contributes to peace in the international community and increases the number of allies in the Republic of Korea." And the warning to the North Korean regime, in a way, is really the point. Therefore, it accurately conveyed that if North Korea makes the wrong decision of using nuclear weapons if it does something wrong, it can lead to the end with the existence of a strategic command and the strategic assets of the United States. In fact, I can tell you that today's general event is a message that I want to convey to the people, the world, and even more precisely to the North Korean regime.
[Anchor]
And the core of our defense capability is that there will be a three-axis system. This is the second step. There is a Korean missile defense system KMD. We prepared a graphic. First, it's augmented reality. We've moved to the Korean Peninsula, and the screen you're seeing now is a low-altitude defense system. It's Heavenly Palace 2 and Patriot 3. What is the difference between these two?
[Yang Wook]
In fact, altitudes and things like that are pretty much the same. When you have an end-of-life low-altitude interception, that is, a missile launch, you have an ascending stage, an intermediate flight stage, and a descending stage. Falling and falling is called the end stage, and even at this stage of falling, the altitude is low, so we call it low altitude, where the altitude is less than 30 to 40 kilometers. The altitude is 15-20km, and the Patriot Pac 3 is 30 to 40km, which is slightly higher than that.It's possible. So, through these multi-layered interceptions, we first prevent North Korea's short-range missile attacks. Then, the Heavenly Palace means that the Heavenly Palace 2 is originally M-Sem, so the range is medium-Sem, which means Sulphist Air Missile and Surface-to-Air Missile. However, this Elsem, which is higher than the celestial palace, has been developed now, and it appeared once at last year's military parade, and I hope it will be deployed at the end of this year or next year.
[Anchor]
The screen you're looking at right now.
[Yang Wook]
At an altitude of more than 40 km, so I think it's possible to intercept at an altitude of about 40 to 60 km. Elsem 2, which has improved its performance a little in Elsem, and so Elsem 2, which can intercept at an altitude of almost 100km, is also in the midst of development. In fact, the overlapping attempts are made to prevent attacks on North Korean missiles. If such a system is completed, I can tell you that South Korea's missile defense system may be tighter than the United States. Because in the United States, Patriot Pac 3 intercepts up to 30km and then THAAD up to 120km in altitude. In fact, there are talks that the performance-enhanced version can be intercepted a little higher than that, up to 150 to 200, but we will have to wait and see.
[Anchor]
If it's higher than this, there's SM3.
[Yang Wook]
They intercept outside the atmosphere, in the stratosphere corresponding to the universe. So, in fact, it's almost like a space asset. In the case of remodeling SM3, it is judged that if you do well with satellites, you can intercept them. Anyway, basically, it is not very likely that SM3 will launch such a high-altitude missile toward Korea. So that's probably when we intercept this in Guam or the U.S. military base in Japan or the U.S. mainland or whatever threats to our alliance, and then North Korea might very rarely use, for example, ICBMs to attack South Korea. through a high-angle launch It's used for things like that.
[Anchor]
We looked at the Korean missile defense system through AR. Then, it was the second of the Korean three-axis system, missile defense. Will the strategic command you mentioned earlier oversee these parts?
[Yang Wook]
At first, it was known as a command in which the Strategic Command oversees all three-axis systems. In fact, among our security researchers, it's a bad approach, and among experts, it's been said. Because basically kill chain and KAMD are actions that our military usually does 365 days a year. Then what this is is a system that has to be operated 365 days a year as a Korea-U.S. joint force. It is not highly efficient to operate it separately to the strategic company. Therefore, it is the strategic command that Kill Chain and KAMD continue to operate under the control of the coalition, and KMPR, as I said earlier, retaliate for North Korea's wrong actions, and take charge of cyber, space, and other operational areas that cover the entire Korean Peninsula. So, as I said, it will function as a counterpart of the U.S. Strategic Command and as a key unit to break down the strategic core of such an enemy.
[Anchor]
Let's cut down on the conversation this time.
When the division begins in a little while, I will talk to Commissioner Yang Wook again. Thank you.
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