Lee honors fallen troops in West Sea, vows to build peace with strong defense capabilities

President Lee Jae Myung speaks at a national cemetery in the central city of Daejeon, Friday, during a ceremony to mark the 11th anniversary of the commemoration day for 55 troops who died in three major clashes with North Korea in the West Sea. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung on Friday paid his respects to honor 55 South Korean service members killed during military clashes with North Korea while defending the West Sea maritime border, vowing to build peace on the Korean Peninsula with strong defense capabilities.

Lee made the remarks in a speech marking the 11th West Sea Defense Day at the national cemetery in Daejeon, about 140 kilometers south of Seoul, which honored the 55 sailors and Marines killed in clashes with North Korea near the Northern Limit Line (NLL) — the de facto maritime border between the two Koreas.

"I believe that firmly protecting our people and the territory of the Republic of Korea with strong national defense and creating a peaceful Korean Peninsula free from fear of war is the historic mission left to us by the heroes who defended the West Sea," Lee said.

"Peace, a state in which there is no need to fight, is the most certain form of security, though it is difficult to achieve," he added.

Lee also pledged efforts to end confrontation and tensions and to "write a new chapter" of shared growth and prosperity in the West Sea.

"Our responsibility is to transform the sea that was defended by the soldiers at the cost of their lives from a 'line of conflict and confrontation' into a 'ground for peace and prosperity," he said.

Lee then vowed to provide "special compensation" to the veterans for their "special sacrifices" in defending South Korea against North Korean provocations in the western sea.

"Not a single day of 'spring' came for free in the history of South Korea nor a single moment of peace was granted on its own," he said, adding that the freedom and peace the country enjoys today are built upon "special sacrifices."

He also noted the efforts of the Navy and Marine Corps in defending the waters, the Coast Guard in protecting the country from illegal fishing activities, as well as the residents in the West Sea region.

"We will remember, record and honor them," he said.

It marked Lee's first time attending the ceremony as president, after he attended last year's event as a presidential candidate.

Since 2016, the government has designated the fourth Friday of March as the commemoration day, known as West Sea Defense Day.