President Lee Myung-bak pledged Monday to take "resolute" measures against those responsible for the sinking of a South Korean naval ship last month as he consoled the nation over the tragedy.
"As the president, I will ascertain the cause of the Cheonan's sinking to the last detail," he said in his special address. "I will deal resolutely with the results and make sure such an incident does not recur."
The Cheonan, a 1,200-ton corvette, sank in the Yellow Sea on the night of March 26 while on a routine patrol mission after a mysterious explosion that tore it into two, according to the Navy. Last week, the Navy salvaged the stern of the ship where the bodies of thirty-eight young sailors were found. Eight crew members are still missing, and efforts to hoist the ship's stem was being delayed by bad weather and strong currents.
In the emotionally-charged address, Lee read aloud the name of each dead sailor. The eight-minute address, broadcast live nationwide, was in lieu of his biweekly pre-recorded radio address.
Lee promised efforts to ensure watertight national security.
"I will make our military stronger," he said. "If (the two Koreas) are reunited and genuine peace and prosperity comes to this land, the people will remember your sacrifice again," Lee said. "Your fatherland, which you loved, will not forget you, ever."
"A strong military is made not only by powerful weapons but also by strong spirit. What we need now is strong spirit above all," he said. "We need to reflect on ourselves now. We have to find out and fully address what it is that we lack, what the problem is."
Lee offered condolences to the bereaved families and asked the people to make joint efforts to overcome the current ordeal.