Kim Dong-yeon Mourns West Sea Heroes: "Will Not Relax Vigilance Against North Korean Threats and Provocations"

[Suwon Ilbo=Reporter Park No-hun] Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon paid tribute to the West Sea Defense heroes and pledged not to relax vigilance against North Korean threats and provocations.

Governor Kim Dong-yeon stated through SNS on the 24th: "I express reverence to the 55 heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect our nation's waters, and extend my deepest condolences to their bereaved families. I will not forget the dedication of the service members who participated in the defense." He added, "To protect our provincial residents, I will make efforts to establish a security information-sharing system as soon as possible."

He continued, "Gyeonggi Province possesses the longest inter-Korean border on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean threats and provocations never cease." He pledged, "So that the sacrifices of the West Sea heroes do not go in vain, we will maintain vigilance with firm preparedness not only at sea but also on land and in the sky."

The following is the full text of Gyeonggi Province Governor Kim Dong-yeon's SNS post.

<We mourn the heroes who died for the defense of the West Sea>

Today marks the eighth West Sea Defense Day.

'Second Yeonpyeong Naval Battle', 'Cheonan ship attack', 'Yeonpyeongdo artillery provocation'...

I express reverence to the 55 heroes who sacrificed their lives to protect our nation's waters, and extend my deepest condolences to their bereaved families. I will not forget the dedication of the service members who participated in the defense.

On behalf of 14 million Gyeonggi Province residents, I laid flowers at the Daejeon National Cemetery and delivered condolence payments to the bereaved families of 8 heroes residing in Gyeonggi Province.

In December of last year, an incident occurred in which we learned through media reports that a North Korean unmanned aerial vehicle had violated Gyeonggi Province airspace.

I have strongly requested the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to improve the reporting system between 'military-government-local authorities' so that Gyeonggi Province can respond immediately in case of emergency.

To protect our provincial residents, I will make efforts to establish a security information-sharing system as soon as possible.

Gyeonggi Province possesses the longest inter-Korean border on the Korean Peninsula.

North Korean threats and provocations never cease.

So that the sacrifices of the West Sea heroes do not go in vain, we will maintain vigilance with firm preparedness not only at sea but also on land and in the sky.