SEOUL (Reuters) -South Korea put on the first large-scale military parade in a decade on Tuesday, with weapons ranging from ballistic missiles to tanks rolling through Seoul in a show of force as it takes a tougher stance against North Korea.<\/p>\n
The parade marks the country’s Armed Forces Day, normally a muted event relative to the massive events the North has staged under leader Kim Jong Un that include strategic weapons such as intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).<\/p>\n
In a speech at Seoul Air Base, President Yoon Suk Yeol warned Pyongyang against the use of nuclear weapons and pledged to ramp up support for the military and the defence industry.<\/p>\n
“If North Korea uses nuclear weapons, its regime will be brought to an end by an overwhelming response from the ROK-U.S. alliance,” Yoon said while addressing troops in the rain. ROK is the initials of the South’s official name, the Republic of Korea.<\/p>\n
The full-day event featured thousands of troops and South Korea’s home-grown tanks and self-propelled artillery, joined by 300 of the 28,500 U.S. soldiers based in the country, the Defence Ministry said.<\/p>\n
The highlight was a 2-km (1.24 mile) parade through Seoul’s main commercial and business district to the bustling Gwanghwamun area that is the gate to a sprawling palace in the heart of Seoul.<\/p>\n
Crowds lined the streets in the rain to take in the rare display of military hardware up close, cheering as troops, tanks, missiles and a underwater drone passed by.<\/p>\n
Cho Kyu-bok, a 75-year-old resident of Goyang, northwest of Seoul, said he came to Gwanghwamun hours before the event to get a front row view of the new weapons.<\/p>\n
“Weapons like the unmanned drones show how much our country has developed,” Cho said.<\/p>\n
\u30a2\u30a4\u30c6\u30e0 1 \u306e 5 South Korean troops march during a celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, September 26, 2023. REUTERS\/Kim Hong-Ji\/Pool<\/p>\n
[1\/5]South Korean troops march during a celebration to mark the 75th anniversary of Korea Armed Forces Day, in Seongnam, South Korea, September 26, 2023. REUTERS\/Kim Hong-Ji\/Pool<\/p>\n
Some activists, however, held a demonstration near the site of the parade, denouncing the government for fanning tensions, holding a banner that read “Stop arms race.”<\/p>\n
WEAPONS DISPLAY<\/p>\n
South Korea last held a military street parade in 2013. The Armed Forces Day event and parade were held ahead of the actual day on Oct. 1, as it overlaps with a major national holiday this year.<\/p>\n
The event comes as President Yoon has taken a hawkish stance on North Korea, making displays of weapons and military drills a cornerstone of his strategy to counter the North’s evolving nuclear and missile programs.<\/p>\n
Yoon has promised a swift response against any aggression by Pyongyang, and has actively reinforced a military alliance with Washington and Tokyo since taking office last year.<\/p>\n
Tuesday’s parade kicked off at the airbase on the outskirts of Seoul, where Hyunmoo missiles, L-SAM missile interceptors, and reconnaissance drones were among military hardware on display.<\/p>\n
A fly-past of F-35 jets and the country’s first domestically developed fighter, the KF-21, was scrapped because of poor weather, the presidential office said.<\/p>\n
Hyunmoo is one of South Korea’s latest missiles, which analysts say is an integral part of Seoul’s plans for striking the North during a conflict, while the L-SAM is designed to hit incoming missiles at altitudes of 50km to 60km.<\/p>\n
The parade comes a week after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un returned from a trip to Russia, during which he and Russian President Vladimir Putin agreed to boost military cooperation.<\/p>\n
Yoon has said that if Russia helped North Korea enhance its weapons programs in return for assistance for its war in Ukraine, it would be “a direct provocation”.<\/p>\n
Reporting by Soo-hyang Choi and Hyunsu Yim; Editing by Jack Kim, Gerry Doyle and Christian Schmollinger<\/p>\n
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