SEOUL – On the anniversary of the 2010 sinking of the South Korean warship ROKS Cheonan, Defense Minister Shin Won-sik called for heightened defense measures along the Northern Limit Line (NLL), the contentious maritime boundary with North Korea. The call to arms comes in remembrance of the tragic incident, where a North Korean torpedo sank the Cheonan near the NLL, resulting in the loss of 46 South Korean sailors. Minister Shin stressed the importance of defending the western sea border from North Korean incursions and provocations, highlighting the North's dismissal of the NLL's legitimacy and their continuous attempts to undermine it.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Shin emphasized the sacred duty of South Korean forces to protect the Yellow Sea and maintain the integrity of the NLL, in honor of the fallen Cheonan sailors. The defense minister's remarks resonate amid ongoing threats from North Korea, as exemplified by Kim Jong-un's recent rejection of the NLL and advocacy for aggressive actions against South Korean vessels. Additionally, Shin visited the 6th Marine Brigade on Baengnyeong Island to honor the Cheonan's sailors and to underline the importance of readiness and retaliation in the face of North Korean provocations. His statements reflect growing concerns over potential North Korean aggressions, underscored by recent military exercises and the testing of various offensive capabilities by the North.