Addressing US Congress, South Korean president urges North Korea to 'cease provocations'

By Rabia Iclal Turan

WASHINGTON (AA) - South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol on Thursday said that his country will play the role as a “compass for freedom” while urging North Korea “cease provocations”.

Addressing the joint meeting of the US Congress during his visit to the US, Yoon said: "Together with the US, Korea will play the role as a 'compass for freedom.

"It will safeguard and broaden the freedom of citizens of the world," he added.

Yoon said North Korea's nuclear program poses “a serious threat to the peace on the Korean Peninsula and beyond,” urging the country to “cease provocations” and “take right path”.

“Korea, with the US, will continue to work for North Korea's denuclearization,” he stressed.

Adding that North Korea's “obsession” with nuclear weapons and missiles is throwing the country’s population into a “severe economic crisis and human rights abuses,” he said: “We must raise global awareness of dire human rights situation in North Korea.”

“We must not shy away from our duty to promote freedom for North Koreans,” he added.

In his remarks, the South Korean president also addressed the war against Ukraine, saying that is a “violation of international law”.

“Korea strongly condemns the unprovoked armed attack against Ukraine,” he said, adding that they will “actively work” to save the freedom of the people in Ukraine and support reconstruction efforts.

-US-South Korean alliance

He thanked both Democrats and Republicans for passing a resolution, marking the 70th anniversary of the Alliance.

Recalling the Korean war in 1950, the South Korean leader said that the US “did not look the other way” at that decisive moment.

“Korean and American soldiers stood shoulder to shoulder, and fought bravely,” he continued, adding that 4,500 American service members lost their lives during the battle on Lake Changjin while 37,000 US soldiers lost their lives over the course of the Korean war.

He thanked the US and its people for “honoring the Korean War as a proud legacy”.

He noted that the US and South Korea signed the mutual defense treaty and opened a “new era of the Alliance” following the end of the three years of intense battle.

“Today, our alliance is stronger than ever, more prosperous together, and more connected, like no other,” he added.