Kumar Siddhartha, Pune
On Tuesday, South Korea staged its first military parade in a decade, showcasing the advanced weaponry amidst deteriorating relations with the nuclear-armed North Korea.
While Pyongyang, the capital of South Korea, frequently hosts massive military parades, such events in Seoul are typically organized on a biennial basis, coinciding with South Korea’s Armed Forces Day celebrations. The last parade was held in 2013, 5 years after which the president Moon Jae-in opted for a celebratory ceremony instead of a military affair, aligning with his reconciliatory stance toward North Korea. The South Korea defense announced that the parade on Tuesday is scheduled to begin around 4 pm (0700 GMT) and will involve approximately 6,700 troops and 340 pieces of military equipment, including F-35 stealth fighters.
The defense added that South Korea’s first domestically produced fighter jet, KF-21, will be showcased alongside the next-generation helicopter. Additionally, the ministry stated that approximately 200 South Korean and US personnel will execute “tactical drops mirroring the procedures of a real aerial infiltration.”
To counter the growing threats from North Korea, last year elected president Yoon Suk Yeol, has made close relations with the United States. Approximately 300 American military personnel are scheduled to participate in the parade on Tuesday.
While attending a separate ceremony for the 75th Armed Force Day at an air base in south of Seoul, Yoon praised the growth of the US-South Korea defense bond. “If North Korea uses their nuclear weapons, the ROK-US alliance will respond decisively, leading to the downfall of the North Korean regime,” he said. Against the backdrop of international sanctions, North Korea has conducted numerous weapons tests this year, including the testing of intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBM).
LMI Consulting’s Soo Kim, a former CIA analyst, told AFP that the parade in Seoul represents a conspicuous and visually assertive message from the South Korean government, indicating to North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un that Seoul remains steadfast and is not seeking reconciliation or backing down.
In the previous year, South Korea successfully secured defense export contracts totaling $17.3 billion. This included a significant $12.7 billion deal with Poland, a NATO member and a crucial ally of Ukraine, encompassing the sale of K9 Howitzers, K2 battle tanks, and other military equipment.