South Korea Holds First Military Parade In A Decade

South Korea held its first military parade in a decade on Tuesday, September 26, 2023, to mark Armed Forces Day and showcase its growing military capabilities. The parade, which took place in the heart of Seoul, featured thousands of troops, tanks, missiles, and other military hardware. It was the largest military parade in South Korean history. The said parade was attended by South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol, Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, and other government officials. Also present were hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin.

President Yoon Suk-yeol delivered a speech at the parade in which he vowed to build a stronger military to deter aggression from North Korea as he stated," We will continue to strengthen our national defense capabilities to ensure that we can protect ourselves against any threat.'' The parade was met with mixed reactions from the South Korean public. Some people welcomed the display of military strength, while others expressed concerns about the cost of the parade and the potential for escalation with North Korea. Others think it is childish and comes across as they are powerful and that is the same thing North Korea is doing. Some experts think the parade could be seen as provocative by North Korea. They have also warned that the parade could lead to an arms race between North and South Korea. Other experts have argued that the parade is a necessary step to deter aggression from North Korea. They have also said that the parade is a sign of South Korea's growing confidence in its military capabilities.

North Korea has not yet commented on the South Korean military parade. However, in the past, North Korea has condemned such parades as provocative and destabilizing. The South Korean military parade is a significant event. It is the first time that South Korea has held such a large-scale parade in a decade. It is also the first time that a South Korean president has attended a military parade since 2013 and also the first time American troops participated in the parade. The parade is a sign of South Korea's growing military capabilities. It is also a sign that South Korea is taking the threat from North Korea more seriously. The parade is also likely to be seen as a provocation by North Korea. North Korea has been critical of South Korea's military buildup in the past. It is possible that North Korea will respond to the parade with its own military exercises or tests.

The South Korean military parade is a significant event. It is a sign of South Korea's growing military capabilities and its determination to deter aggression from North Korea. The parade is also likely to be seen as a provocation by North Korea, which could lead to further escalation of tensions between the two countries. The parade featured over 30,000 troops, 280 tanks, and 100 aircraft. It showcased some of South Korea's most advanced weapons systems, including the Hyunmoo-4 ballistic missile and the K2 Black Panther tank. The parade was attended by over 100,000 spectators, and the parade cost an estimated 100 billion won (US$77 million).

The parade was held in the Yongsan Garrison, a former US military base that is now being redeveloped into a park. The parade route ran through the heart of Seoul, past the Gyeongbokgung Palace and the National Assembly. It was broadcast live on television, radio and was also streamed live on social media. The South Korean military parade is a significant event that has the potential to impact the security situation in North East Asia. It is important to monitor the situation closely and to work to reduce tensions between North and South Korea.