Giving South Korea’s official response to North Korea’s sinking of the Cheonan on March 26th, President Lee Myung Bak has demanded an apology from the North and the punishment of those responsible, while also making clear that any further provocation by North Korea will invoke an immediate military response.

During the speech, President Lee emphasized, “North Korea should apologize to South Korea and the international community and punish immediately those persons responsible for this incident. This is the obligation which North Korea must implement first”

Speaking at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul this morning, the President asserted, “If North Korea invades our territorial waters, skies or land in future, we will immediately invoke the right to self-defense,” adding, “The Republic of Korea will not brook any of North Korea’s provocations and will maintain the principles of deterrence.”

He heavily criticized North Korea in the speech, pointing out, “With the Cheonan incident on March 26th, North Korea violated the UN Charter, the Armistice Agreement and Inter-Korean Basic Agreement, the fundamental agreements for peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.”

He continued, “The administration will refer this issue to the UN Security Council and… call North Korea to account with the international community. Many countries support our position.”

Regarding unilateral South Korean measures against North Korea, President Lee went on, “The situation on the Korean Peninsula is at a significant turning point. North Korea will pay an equivalent penalty for their actions; I will take decisive steps to hold North Korea responsible. From now on, no North Korean ships may use the sea lanes in our territorial waters as permitted by the inter-Korean maritime agreement.”

“Inter-Korean cooperation and exchanges will be suspended,” he added, “The sinking of the Cheonan was a North Korean military provocation whereby North Korea attacked South Korea. In a situation where North Korea has sunk the Cheonan and taken our precious young lives, cooperation and exchanges are meaningless.”

However, “Aid for infants and children will continue. The Kaesong Complex issue will be examined with reference to its unique nature.”

“Our fundamental purpose is not a military confrontation,” President Lee reaffirmed, “but peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, the mutual prosperity of the Korean nation, and future peaceful unification.”

He went on, “The North Korean regime should now change. It is time for them to make a brave decision, face up to reality and choose the right way for the regime and its people.”

“We should not let the Korean Peninsula remain a danger zone in the Northeast Asia. North and South Korea should take the lead in solving this problem.”

Finally, the President took time to note the South Korean military’s fault in allowing the infiltration of a North Korean submarine to occur unhindered, saying, “I must acknowledge our military’s mistake. The administration will take this opportunity to establish a strong safety posture.”

“Based on the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the ROK-US combined defense posture will be solidified,” he added.