President Moon calls for strong military for peace amid 70th Armed Forces Day
- 6 years ago
President Moon Jae-in attended a special ceremony on Monday marking South Korea's 70th Armed Forces Day.
He stressed the nation has entered an era of peace,.. but insisted the military's role has never been more crucial.
Our Blue Houise correspondent Hwang Hojun reports.
President Moon said the nation has entered an era of peace now that the threat of war on the Peninsula is gone, recalling the declaration he signed in Pyeongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
He reiterated the promise he made in front of 150,000 Pyeongyang citizens to realize a Peninsula without nuclear weapons or nuclear threats.
But President Moon emphasized that peace doesn't come overnight,... and that it can only be achieved when South Korea is powerful enough to fend for itself.
"Now is the time our military to be at the forefront of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Peace through strength is the mission of the military. The real hero of the peace era is a strong military."
President Moon's remarks came during a ceremony to celebrate South Korea's 70th Armed Forces Day.
His speech follows his recent summit in Pyeongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, where the two Koreas signed a joint-military agreement to immediately halt all hostile military acts against one another.
During Monday's ceremony, President Moon first congratulated and thanked all active service members and war veterans for their sacrifices.
Noting the military reform that is taking place, President Moon once again stressed that the process is necessary so that the armed forces can be one with the people.
He also stressed that key to a strong military is the soldiers themselves.
"When soldiers are respected without discrimination and are truly proud of their country and military, then they will become soldiers of valor and dedication."
President Moon pledged to make the service environment fairer and more communicative, while also providing customized support for service members to find jobs... to ensure that their military obligation does not cause them to be severed from society.
He also vowed to expand opportunities for discharged soldiers to become police officers, coast guards and firemen as well as tackling gender discrimination within the military.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.
He stressed the nation has entered an era of peace,.. but insisted the military's role has never been more crucial.
Our Blue Houise correspondent Hwang Hojun reports.
President Moon said the nation has entered an era of peace now that the threat of war on the Peninsula is gone, recalling the declaration he signed in Pyeongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
He reiterated the promise he made in front of 150,000 Pyeongyang citizens to realize a Peninsula without nuclear weapons or nuclear threats.
But President Moon emphasized that peace doesn't come overnight,... and that it can only be achieved when South Korea is powerful enough to fend for itself.
"Now is the time our military to be at the forefront of peace on the Korean Peninsula. Peace through strength is the mission of the military. The real hero of the peace era is a strong military."
President Moon's remarks came during a ceremony to celebrate South Korea's 70th Armed Forces Day.
His speech follows his recent summit in Pyeongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, where the two Koreas signed a joint-military agreement to immediately halt all hostile military acts against one another.
During Monday's ceremony, President Moon first congratulated and thanked all active service members and war veterans for their sacrifices.
Noting the military reform that is taking place, President Moon once again stressed that the process is necessary so that the armed forces can be one with the people.
He also stressed that key to a strong military is the soldiers themselves.
"When soldiers are respected without discrimination and are truly proud of their country and military, then they will become soldiers of valor and dedication."
President Moon pledged to make the service environment fairer and more communicative, while also providing customized support for service members to find jobs... to ensure that their military obligation does not cause them to be severed from society.
He also vowed to expand opportunities for discharged soldiers to become police officers, coast guards and firemen as well as tackling gender discrimination within the military.
Hwang Hojun, Arirang News.