Pres. Park Geun Hye Calls for Firm, Effective Actions Against NK's Nuclear Provocations

On Tuesday, South Korean President Park Geun-Hye called for firm and effective actions against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and added that a U.S. anti-missile system is needed in order to protect the country and citizens from possible missile attacks from the North.

At the Cabinet meeting, the President said, "The military should maintain a high-degree retaliation system that may put an end to the North Korean regime, should it fire a single nuclear-tipped missile toward our land."

The Korea Herald also reported that the state head depicted the North's nuclear threats as "evident and tangible" provocations not only for South Korean but also for the international society in general.

Park further added, "The north's nuclear test was an obvious provocation that came amid the international community's increasing warnings against nuclear armament."

Park just recently finished an eight-day overseas trip where she met with other world leaders from the United States, China, Japan, Russia, and Laos. She also asked for their cooperation and participation in sanctions against North Korea.

The antisocial North Korean government carried out its fifth and largest (to date) nuclear test Friday last week. The nuclear test coincides with the commemoration of the country's foundation day and protesting against the international society's evolving pressure on its nuclear activities.

After mentioning the threats from North Korea, Park emphasized her support for the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system to be installed in the southern part of the country next year as a preventive measure for the North's potential missile aggressions.

The President said, "Opposing the THAAD deployment under the given circumstances will only expose the lives and safety of our people to North Korean provocations. Should we annul the THAAD plan at this point in time, when the North is pushing ahead with its nuclear and missile programs, I suspect that our national security will be at risk."