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S. Korean president calls for fortification of islands
ANN - Wednesday, December 8
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Seoul (The Korea Herald/ANN) - South Korean President Lee Myung-bak on Tuesday called on his government to gradually fortify the five islands near the western sea border and improve living conditions there.
"Government ministries should push for gradual fortification (of the five islands) and cooperate to improve living conditions by creating jobs so people can keep living there," Lee was quoted as saying by his spokesperson Kim Hee-jung during a weekly Cabinet meeting.
Lee made the remarks after he received a report on the plan to provide 30 billion won ($26 million) out of reserve funds to rebuild the devastated Yeonpyeong Island and compensate residents there, Kim said.
North Korea on Nov. 23 unleashed a barrage of artillery shells on the South Korean island, killing two marines, two civilians and wounding many more.
The attack left a growing number of Yeonpyeong residents, mostly fishermen, small restaurant owners and their families, thinking of moving to safer areas. Only a handful of the 1,350 residents have returned home, raising concerns that the island might turn into a ghost town and become even more vulnerable to North Korean threats.
The South Korean government said it would greatly reinforce troops on the five western islands and increase the budget to counter the North's asymmetric threats.
Lee said the five islands must be equipped with the world's top-class weapons systems to prepare against localized skirmishes and asymmetric forces.
South Korea has already deployed more long-range artillery guns and multiple rocket launchers on Yeonpyeong Island to beef up military strength.
Seoul also decided to overhaul the rules of engagement on how to use force in case of armed clashes with the North to allow stronger retaliation.
According to military sources, the North is estimated to have some 20,000 to 30,000 troops deployed in its western coastal region while South Korea has roughly 5,000 marine soldiers on Yeonpyeong and Bangnyeong Islands.
Around 560 naval vessels including submarines and hover crafts are deployed in North Korea's western coastal naval bases of Nampo, Sagot and Chodo. South Korea's Second Fleet Command has some 35 warships ? including 3,500-ton destroyers, 2,000-ton frigates and 1,000-ton corvettes ? deployed in the West Sea.
Also on Tuesday, Lee denounced opposition parties' criticism of the revised free trade agreement with the U.S., saying FTAs increase other countries' support of South Korea.
"FTAs raise support of Korea. It is very important for a divided country to receive the international community's backing," Lee was quoted as saying by Kim.
Lee mentioned that the European Union, which signed an FTA with South Korea in October, most strongly condemned the North for its military provocation, and that India, which was previously neutral on inter-Korean issues, rebuked Pyongyang after its FTA with South Korea went into effect.
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