[Newsmaker] President Moon makes surprise visit to military camp
President Moon Jae-in made a surprise trip Friday to a military training camp near the inter-Korean border for lunch and a special meeting with new army conscripts.
"Thank you for welcoming me with applause when I should be the one to applaud you," the president said shortly before the start of lunch with some 200 new service members at the 5th Infantry Division based in Yeoncheon, located some 60 kilometers north of Seoul.
The president's first trip to an Army boot camp came as he sought to personally offer his gratitude to military service members, his office Cheong Wa Dae said.
"Military service, in a way, is a very precious duty when our young people have to devote the prime time of their youth for our national security, our people and the lives and safety of our families," Moon said in a separate meeting held shortly after the lunch.
"I hope you will take pride in doing so," he added, according to Cheong Wa Dae pool reports.
Moon's visit comes amid unprecedented rapprochement between South Korea and North Korea, which signed a non-aggression military pact following a historic summit between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in April.
Moon and Kim held two additional meetings in May and September.
The president insisted that strong defense will further promote peace.
"Specially, the 5th Infantry Division is at the very forefront of our security. Such a status does not change because of changes in inter-Korean relations," he said.
"Inter-Korean relations can only develop further when you continue to stand and defend our security at the forefront. Without the support of strong defense capabilities, dialogue and peace may become weak," the president added.
The only difference the inter-Korean rapprochement may have brought to the armed forces, he said, may be that the military now must help to make peace instead of just defending it.
"If our role had been to protect the lives and safety of our people by preventing enemy invasions, our role is now to make peace by actively promoting reconciliation with North Korea and to make sure such peace will lead to the country's economic development," said the president.
"I hope you would take great pride in that the 5th Infantry Division is playing that iconic role."
The president will later return to Seoul and host a year-end dinner for his ministers and other ranking officials, including Fair Trade Commission Chairman Kim Sang-jo and Board of Audit and Inspection Chairman Choe Jae-hyeong.
The dinner will be held at Cheong Wa Dae, with Seoul Mayor Park Won-soon also in attendance. (Yonhap)
-
13 Places to Find Little Legends and Compact CryptidsKorea to ease physical distancing for two weeks before Chuseok尿道狭窄自插导管排尿 胶布掉进膀胱长成巨石脱贫只是第一步 致富才是最终目标A Barbie flip phone is here from HMDAbe welcomes North Korea's decision to halt nuclear, missile testsGorsuch dark四川将筹建“空中120” 急重症患者能坐飞机看病The Future of Tech: The Desktop PCGoogle drones will deliver meatballs and other groceries in this lucky city
- ·高燃!哨响表停赛不止,2024广东“村BA”开赛在即,一分钟带你重温高光瞬间。
- ·Actress Oh In
- ·Data scientist behind Cambridge Analytica scandal slams Facebook
- ·揭阳人保财险:落地全市首笔现代化海洋牧场养殖综合保险
- ·Apple Watch bands: 5 favorites to consider as Apple Watch 10 looms
- ·This masturbation playlist of sexy songs will really have you feeling yourself
- ·四川将筹建“空中120” 急重症患者能坐飞机看病
- ·Google drones will deliver meatballs and other groceries in this lucky city
- ·Sinkhole swallows up car, injuring 2 in Seoul
- ·尿道狭窄自插导管排尿 胶布掉进膀胱长成巨石
- ·Trying to swear on an iPhone is no different than trying to swear in 'The Good Place'
- ·贵品粤味:黔菜入粤正当时
- ·We Cannot Live Without Cryptography!
- ·歌曲MV|《菜心 心连心》
- ·Coronavirus infections break out at Seoul face mask company
- ·Report: Apple working on AR/VR headset with 16K resolution for 2020
- ·Google is bringing AI summaries to ‘Files’ so you can find your docs quicker
- ·Google drones will deliver meatballs and other groceries in this lucky city
- ·Moon to give video speech in virtual UN session next week
- ·Facebook warns advertisers: You might not like 'clear history'
- ·Discover Secret Swimming Holes and Hidden History in Crystal River, Florida
- ·Chinese Communist Party indoctrination app dominates App Store
- ·龙头齐聚,明星产品亮相!中山预制菜在预制菜“第一会”等你来
- ·Net neutrality is pretty much dead. Here's what that means.
- ·21 Caves That Offer Otherworldly Experiences
- ·Nicki Minaj dropped Seth Rogen’s name in a verse and he lost his mind
- ·Prime exclusive deal: $50 off Govee floor lamp
- ·国家首批乡村工匠名师拟认定名单公示,百色“绣球姑娘”王秀芬入选
- ·Alfa Romeo's Opmeer is a virtual F1 world champion
- ·Facebook warns advertisers: You might not like 'clear history'
- ·Webb telescope just snapped image of huge black hole gobbling material
- ·Premier League to trial concussion replacements, votes against five subs
- ·Trying to swear on an iPhone is no different than trying to swear in 'The Good Place'
- ·国家首批乡村工匠名师拟认定名单公示,百色“绣球姑娘”王秀芬入选
- ·Nvidia GeForce Now Ultimate vs. New Graphics Card
- ·On trade, Trump is flip