President Lee Myung-bak made a surprise visit to Yeonpyeong Island in the western coast on Thursday and stressed that the Northern Limit Line (NLL) must be guarded until the unification of the two Koreas. Yeonpyeong Island is only one-point-five kilometers away from the NLL.

Presidential office spokesman Park Jung-ha reported that Lee said the way to maintain peace and protect the lives and safety of South Korean citizens is by protecting the NLL.

The trip was the President’s first visit to the front-line island since he took office.

President Lee inspected the Yeonpyeong Unit observation post and the artillery locating radar facilities during his visit. He also encouraged the soldiers there for their hard work.

He also visited the Yeonpyeong Island district office and evacuation facilities and met with local residents.