‘Second Battle of Yeonpyeong’on Korean War anniversary

Ruling and opposition party lawmakers will have a preview session of the movie “the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong” at the legislators’ hall at the National Assembly on Thursday. The South Korean naval speedboat "Chamsuri 357" responded to a surprise attack by North Korean speedboats that violated the Northern Limit Line at waters near Yeonpyeong Island on June 29, 2002. But the then Kim Dae-jung administration emphasized "rule on exchange of fires," suggesting "not to respond to the North Korean military’s provocation," as it pursued the "sunshine policy" of engaging North Korea, and as a result six people died in the battle. Parents of the fallen soldiers cried and lamented to see President Kim Dae-jung leave for Japan to watch the final match of the World Cup finals to Japan, instead of attending the funeral service for the victims.

“The Second Battle of Yeonpyeong” rekindles our sense of national security, as the country marks the 65th anniversary of the outbreak of the Korean War, in that the military’s misjudgment and the government’s sloppy response caused bigger damage despite signs of the North’s provocations. On this day 50 years ago, we also figured out the North’s moves to invade the South through various intelligence sources in the 1950 as well, but failed to prepare itself properly. The government estimates that in the three-year tragedy of war between the Korean people, the number of soldiers who died, suffered injured, and went missing amounted to 987,000 in the South alone, and 804,600 civilians were victimized. More than 40 percent of manufacturing facilities were destroyed, as the value of physical damage is worth about 3 billion U.S. dollars. The U.N. troops also suffered massive damage. Pain and suffering stemming from the protracted separation of the nation is still ongoing.

Preventing a second Korean War is more important than anything. The South Korean military’s combat forces have so advanced that they can hardly be compared with those during the Korean War. Currently, South Korea has more than 630,000 soldiers, over 400 fighter jets, more than 2,400 armed tanks, over 5,600 field guns, and more than 100 battleships. The North has more than 1.2 million soldiers, over 820 fighter planes, over 4,300 armed tanks, more than 8,600 field guns, and over 430 battleships. On top of this, the North is armed with nuclear weapons and missiles, and if a war broke out again, the South and the North will suffer so large damage that they will stand little chance for revival, as they will return before the era of industrialization.

For South Korea to end hatred and hostility and achieve peaceful unification between the two Koreas, it should further strengthen freedom, democracy and market economy that enabled the Republic of Korea to prosper. The South should also thoroughly prepare for possible attempt by the North, which is impossible to achieve unification through communism based on dialogue, to unify the two Koreas by using military force. Until peace is settled on the Korean Peninsula, the South should solidly maintain the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and further strengthen its defense capabilities. Only depending on an ally without having commitment and capacity to defend on its own will not guarantee the existence of a nation.

The spirits of our patriots are asking the South Korean government and the military whether the latter are committed and ready to sternly cope with the North’s possible invasion, and whether they remember those who sacrificed lives for the nation. Only when it is always awaken, the Republic of Korea can have a guaranteed future.