"It is a legitimate act of self-defense for the United States to militarily subdue Venezuela and arrest President Nicolás Maduro." [Photo=White House]

The U.S. military operation in Venezuela was a legitimate exercise of self-defense.

As news spread that the United States had finally subdued Venezuela with military action and arrested President Maduro, fierce debate is raging within South Korea.

Among them, there are not a few foolish individuals who insist that the U.S. military action is interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation and an illegal act of aggression.

Others claim that it is treasonous for conservatives to wish for the U.S. military to help South Korea in the same way, and that if the U.S. were to take military action in South Korea, it would be interference in internal affairs.

Many are trembling, fearing that the United States will truly take action against the Lee Jae-myung administration.

Maduro's Arrest: Principled Retaliation Against an Adversary Nation

In short, the U.S. military operation this time is absolutely not interference in the internal affairs of a sovereign nation or aggression. It was a principled retaliation against an adversarial nation that threatened and provoked the United States, and a legitimate exercise of self-defense.

Firstly, Venezuela's alliance with communist countries and its participation in manipulating U.S. elections constituted a preemptive attack against the U.S., thoroughly opposing America.

Secondly, Venezuela's continuous supply of tens of thousands of tons of drugs to the United States was an operation aimed at making the entire U.S. wither away.

Despite repeated warnings from the U.S., President Maduro, allied with a major power, ultimately refused to listen and even oppressed his own citizens with ruthless dictatorship.

Then, should the U.S. have just stood by and watched these problems until America perished? Should the U.S. have continued to tolerate attacks from the Maduro government, backed by China?

No. When someone infringes upon a nation's sovereignty and the safety of its citizens, it is the principle and duty of a sovereign nation to immediately retaliate or eliminate the source of the threat.

Is it right for the Republic of Korea, like the current South Korea, to be unable to speak out despite continuous provocations from North Korea, to appease North Korea, to be prevented from live-fire training, and to be unable to conduct joint military exercises?

Furthermore, as China's multifaceted infiltration intensifies daily, is it right to simply say "hello, hello" and hand over everything of the nation? Now, the only country on earth that has even enacted a law to imprison its own citizens for five years for criticizing China is South Korea.

South Korea, a Strange Nation That 'Financially Treats' Patriots

When you consider this, South Korea is a country with the most fools and traitors on Earth. It is a strange country with an unusually large number of foolish people and traitors, despite being a nation where over 90% of its citizens graduate from university.

Not only that, but South Korea is a strange country where the voices of foolish simpletons are louder, and those who have betrayed the nation sue patriots and subject them to "financial counseling." South Korea is no longer a free democratic country but a new colony of North Korea and China.

If that is not the case, how can they claim that arresting Maduro, the mastermind of international election rigging who sought to destroy the U.S., and a major drug lord, is an invasion of a sovereign nation?

Look at how Thailand boldly bombed Cambodia, which had threatened their country, last time. This is precisely how a sovereign nation exercises its legitimate right to self-defense.

The people of South Korea, who have been continuously battered by North Korea for over 80 years, cannot utter a word even as their citizens die, and are now on the verge of handing over the country to China while only saying "hello, hello," should be ashamed.

I pray for the swift arrival of a day when a strong government is established in this Republic of Korea, which is not inferior in economic and military power, and can exercise national sovereignty with dignity.

Advisor, Hanmi Ilbo

◆ Advisor Kim Tae-san

Advisor, Hanmi Ilbo. Former representative of a North Korean trading company in the Czech Republic. In South Korea, he has worked as the Vice President of the North Korean Society Research Institute, providing in-depth insights and experience on inter-Korean relations and North Korean issues.