South Korea's President Yoon Suk-yeol has vowed to further solidify the country's three-way security cooperation with Japan and the United States in the face of North Korea's repeated military provocations.

Yoon was speaking at the national cemetery in Daejeon on Friday at a memorial ceremony for military personnel killed in attacks by North Korea, including the sinking of a navy ship and shelling on Yeonpyeong Island in 2010.

The president noted that the North is advancing its nuclear weapons program day by day and carrying out missile provocations with unprecedented intensity.

He said, "I will make sure North Korea pays the price for its reckless provocations."
The US and South Korean militaries remain alert for more possible provocations by North Korea after wrapping up their regular joint military drills on Thursday.