By Lee Jon-young
President Yoon Suk-yeol invited key UNC (United Nations Command) officials to the President's office on August 10.
This meeting was designed to sympathize with the UNC's commitment to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and to broaden its mutual understanding of its functions and roles. In particular, it was planned based on the judgment that the role of the UNC become more important than now and the President is responsible for national security at a time when North Korea's nuclear threat is escalating.
"We appreciate the efforts UNC has made for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula," the President said, welcoming UNC commanders and other key posts. "The UNC has maintained its role in protecting freedom and peace on the Korean Peninsula since it was founded 73 years ago under U.N. Security Council Resolution No. 84. In the event of a war on the Korean Peninsula, it is a powerful force to defend the Republic of Korea by integrating our allies' power and providing it to the ROK-US Combined Forces Command," he said.
President Yoon said, "North Korea still sees the UNC as the biggest obstacle to the unification of the Korean Peninsula, and in the event of an emergency on the Korean Peninsula, it plays a role in immediately and automatically providing the power of UN member states without a separate Security Council resolution."
The president said, "We need to implement an overwhelming and strong 'peace by force' so that North Korea can give up its nuclear weapons on its own, and only strong power, not fake peace based on the other's good will, can guarantee true peace."
The meeting was held in a question-and-answer manner following a briefing by UNC Commander LaCamera on the functions and roles of the UNC.
UNC Commander LaCamera ended the briefing by quoting British Prime Minister Winston Churchill, " The only thing worse than fighting with allies is fighting without them, noting that UN member states participating in the defense of the Republic of Korea form a strong global network.
Then, in response to questions from participants about whether there are many countries wishing to participate in the UNC Commander LaCamera made it clear that considering Korea's international status, there are now and will be more, and it is beneficial for many countries to unite for freedom under one flag.
The president noted that the Republic of Korea is the only legitimate government on the Korean Peninsula established through legitimate elections approved by the United Nations. Subsequently, President Yoon ended the meeting by saying that the United Nations Security Council resolution was created to protect the Republic of Korea from North Korean communist forces during the Korean War, and that the Republic of Korea and the United Nations are in a special relationship.
Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop, Joint Chiefs of Staff Chairman Kim Seung-gyeom, UNC Commandant Paul J. LaCamera, Andrew Harrison, commander of the U.N. Command, Choi In-soo, chief of the U.S. Military Commission and Cho Tae-yong, head of the National Security Office attended the meeting, along with other participants.
