The day after the North Korean missile was fired, the Cheonan ship memorial ceremony was held.

President Moon Jae-in’s first reaction to North Korea’s ballistic missile provocation, which resumed after a year, was once again’conversation’. Even though 11 years have passed, President Moon’s clear expression of’the actions of North Korea’ has not come out regarding the invasion of the Cheonan ship.

President Moon said at the 6th West Sea Protection Day ceremony held at the Pyeongtaek Navy 2nd Fleet Command on the 26th, “I am well aware that the public is concerned about the North Korean missile test launch.” It’s time to make an effort to keep the conversation going. “It is never desirable to give trouble to the atmosphere of the conversation.”

This is the first message that came out more than a day after North Korea launched a ballistic missile the morning of the previous day.

North Korea admitted to the launch of a ballistic missile, saying, “It has succeeded in testing a new tactical guided missile,” through the Nodong Shinmun. US President Biden also stated at a press conference on the 25th (local time) that it was “violation of UN Resolution 1718” as a ballistic missile provocation, and requested a convocation of the UN Security Council’s Sanctions Committee on North Korea.

The Day of Protection of the West Sea is the second Yeonpyeong Naval Battle (June 29, 2002), the attack on the Cheonan (March 26, 2010), and the Yeonpyeong Island bombardment provocation (November 23, 2010). It is a day to commemorate the 55 people.

President Moon’s failure to bring out the expression’ballistic missile’, which is subject to UN sanctions regardless of range, and not emphasizing that ballistic missile launch is a’provocation by North Korea’ is analyzed as an intention not to stimulate North Korea. .

Instead, President Moon said, “We have the world’s best missile capabilities to defend ourselves while adhering to the principle of denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula,” emphasizing “overwhelming power”.

As for the navy, he said, “We will complete the 3,000-ton submarine business in 2024 and secure a strong underwater power that is second to none through the’more advanced submarine business’.” He emphasized, “I tell the people with confidence that I have a strong defense force than ever before and that I have a solid security posture that can defeat any provocations with a strong ROK-US alliance.”

The message to North Korea, which emphasized the superiority of military power, is based on the Hyeonmu 4 missile that successfully launched last year, the first-stage rocket propellant that was tested the day before, and a nuclear-powered submarine in mind.

President Moon, however, did not disclose the names of the powers such as’Hyunmoo 4’or’Nuclear-Propelled Submarine’, but it is also said that in the political world, “it is conscious of North Korea.” President Moon never used the word “North Korea” at all at last year’s ceremony, which he attended for the first time since his inauguration.

President Moon refrained from commenting on the cause of the tsunami of the Cheonan, which was concluded by North Korea’s actions this year as well.

President Moon stated that it was North Korea’s actions in terms of the 2nd Battle of Yeonpyeong and the bombardment of Yeonpyeong Island with expressions such as “involuntary attack”. On the other hand, regarding the Cheonan, he revealed the fact that “the name of the new frigate to be used in 2023 was decided by Cheonan.” He said, “I would like to express my consolation and thanks to the surviving soldiers of the Cheonan, including the survivors of the Cheonan, including the bereaved family and former Captain Choi Won-il, who have longed for and supported the resurrection of the Cheonan.”

President Moon continued, saying, “The history of patriotism achieved by the heroes of the West Sea should be a legacy of unity for all,” he said, indirectly expressing uncomfortable feelings about the criticism surrounding the Cheonan.

At the ceremony, the mother of the late Sergeant Min Pyeong-ki, who was killed by the attack on the Cheonan, also drew attention to the fact that Ms. Yoon Cheong-ja, the mother of the late Sergeant Min Pyeong-ki, sat right next to Ms. Mrs. Yoon approached President Moon, who gave a wreath to the Memorial Tower last year, and said, “I haven’t truly said that it was’North Korea’. This is the greeting who asked for a position on the Cheonan bombing, saying, “Please release the old man’s hans.” At that time, President Moon repeatedly said, “The government’s position is the same,” but did not say “North Korea’s actions.” Mrs. Yoon spoke with Mrs. Kim Jeong-suk throughout the ceremony, but the contents were not confirmed.

After the ceremony, President Moon visited a memorial with the family members of the Cheonan ship, including Ms. Yoon. In the process, President Moon said at a written briefing by Blue House spokesman Kang Min-seok that he received a report of the attack situation of the Cheonan by Kim Rok-hyun, director of the Seohae Guard. After receiving the report, President Moon replied, “I remember the events at the time very vividly.” However, the Blue House briefing did not include expressions such as’flooding’ or’North Korea’.

It is the second time that President Moon attended the ceremony after last year. In 2018, it was a state visit to Vietnam, and in 2019, he was absent due to the Daegu economic tour schedule. Over this, opposition parties suspect that it is a political move ahead of the general election last year and the by-election of Seoul and Busan mayors this year. In particular, this year, due to the coronavirus, the attendance of politicians was minimized, but the scope of attendance immediately before the ceremony was expanded to raise controversy.

Reporter Kang Tae-hwa [email protected]