South Korean President Yoon Suk-yeol says establishing peace and preserving democracy rely on maintaining a strong defense to counter threats from North Korea.
Yoon was speaking on Friday at a ceremony marking the 73rd anniversary of an amphibious landing operation in the country's western port city of Incheon during the Korean War.
In 1950, North Korea invaded the South and took control of Seoul. The landing operation in Incheon, led by United States forces and other UN allies, cut off supply routes for the North Korean military and turned the tide of war.
Friday's ceremony took place in waters near Incheon's port. Hovercrafts, attack helicopters and marines on rafts took part in the event and reenacted the landing operation.
Yoon said South Korea will further strengthen trilateral security cooperation with the US and Japan, and enhance overwhelming capabilities against threats from the North. It's the first time for South Korea's sitting president to attend the ceremony.
As the North Korean leader visited Russia's Far East to meet that country's president, Seoul apparently wants to keep Pyongyang in check by showing that its defense, centered on the alliance with the US, is strong.