Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

On July 9 (Tuesday), the Defense Ministry held a conference for top commanders for the first half of 2024, hosted by Defense Minister Shin Won Sik.

The conference was attended by Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Myung-soo, Army Chief of Staff Park An-su, Navy Chief of Staff Yang Yong-mo, Air Force Chief of Staff Lee Young-soo, Marine Corps Commander Kim Gye-hwan, and key officials from the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, branches of the military and institutions.

The conference focused on discussing key outstanding issues such as fostering an atmosphere of concentration on training and improving the work culture. The commanders of each branch of the military participated via teleconference amid a grave security situation of escalating North Korean provocations.

In his opening remarks, Minister Shin expressed his appreciation to the servicemen, civilian military personnel, government employees, and USFK and UNC soldiers for their dedication to their duties at the front and rear areas amid growing uncertainty about the global security situation, North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile capabilities, increasing cooperation between Russia and North Korea, and the North’s escalating provocations such as verbal threats and military actions.

Minister Shin encouraged the commanders, who have worked hard to build an elite, advanced, strong military without wavering in the midst of these grave circumstances and urged them to maintain the momentum to push forward in the second half as well.

The participants had an in-depth discussion on the achievements in implementing defense policy in the first half of 2024 and the direction of execution in the second half. Here are the main points of the implementation plan for the second half.

First, to strengthen an advanced defense capability, top priority will be given to improving the ability to respond to the North’s nuclear and missile threats, and cultivating an elite, advanced military that never loses a battle based on a firm spiritual stance combined with advanced scientific and technological capabilities.

In particular, independent intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (ISR) and ROK 3K defense capabilities will be continuously strengthened. Military reconnaissance satellites No. 1 and 2 were successfully launched into orbit in November 2023 and this April, respectively, enabling the ROK military to secure ultra-high-resolution images of entire regions of North Korea day and night and in all weather conditions. In November, the Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR) military reconnaissance satellite No. 3 will be launched, and an earlier deployment of microsatellites is also being considered. In addition, the Korean Tactical Surface-to-Surface Missile (KTSSM) will be deployed for the first time this year to strengthen ROK 3K defense, and a Long-Range Surface-to-Air Missile (L-SAM), which has been tested, will be produced from next year onward so that the military strength enhancement projects are executed as planned without delay.

The Defense Ministry will establish a strategic command in the second half of the year to respond effectively to North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs. The strategic command will integrate the operation of the military’s strategic capabilities and lead the development of capabilities in new areas such as space, cyber, and the electromagnetic spectrum. The command and control headquarters of the strategic command will be organized during the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise in August, and the command’s mission accomplishment capability will be finally assessed to ensure the completeness of its mission accomplishment.

A defense procurement system is being developed that will enable weapon systems based on advanced technology to be rapidly deployed on the battlefield. By selecting the target military strength in an Integrated Requirements Review Meeting* held for the first time this year, the existing sequential process (requirements presentation - preliminary study - requirements verification) will be changed so that these separate steps can take place simultaneously. In addition, by allowing more flexibility in operational performance, testing and project feasibility studies, the weapon system acquisition period will be reduced to seven years, half the current period.

*A meeting aimed at selecting areas of military strength that require integrated requirements planning, taking into account military needs, technology levels, defense policy, defense resources and contribution to the defense industry

To establish an advanced military culture and improve the service conditions of defense personnel, various tasks are being carried out, such as improving the service conditions of junior officers and promoting a service environment worthy of national dignity. The number of applications for the Reserve Officers' Training Corps (ROTC) will be increased to twice a year and economic compensation for junior officers will be improved by significantly increasing incentives for short-term service. Allowances for staff duties will be increased and the unit environment will be promoted to ensure a work-life balance so that junior officers can serve in the military with pride. In addition, efforts will be made to create conditions in which commanders can devote themselves to their duties. Relevant laws for the frocking of general-level officers and the establishment of the position of deputy commander will be quickly revised and executed without delay. The budget for enhancing combat capability and security operations will be increased so that commanders can concentrate on their command duties.

Second, to build a global security network, global security solidarity with allies and like-minded partners will be strengthened to develop overwhelming deterrence and defense capabilities against North Korea’s advancing nuclear and missile threats.

The Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) established by the Washington Declaration last year will be given more substance to complete “ROK-U.S. integrated extended deterrence.” At the third Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG) meeting held in June this year, Korea and the United States bolstered nuclear deterrence and the response capabilities of the Alliance since the inaugural NCG with in-depth discussions on all areas of extended deterrence, including information sharing, consultative mechanisms, and joint planning and execution. In particular, the NCG produced substantive results, such as completing its review of the Guidelines document, which provides principles and procedures for the Alliance to maintain and strengthen a credible and effective nuclear deterrence policy and posture; the Guidelines provides a solid foundation for strengthening ROK-U.S. cooperation on extended deterrence as equal partners.

To substantially strengthen the Alliance’s deterrence and response capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear and missile programs, Korea and the United States will conduct the following in the second half of the year: enhanced information sharing to plan ROK-U.S. conventional and nuclear integration (CNI), development of a nuclear crisis consultation system, and inter-governmental simulated exercises and defense and military TTXs with a North Korean nuclear attack scenario.

Korea-U.S.-Japan trilateral security cooperation on North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats will be strengthened and institutionalized. As agreed at the June Trilateral Defense Ministerial Meeting, the three countries will strengthen communication by holding the Trilateral Ministerial Meeting (TMM), the Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-CHOD) meeting, and the Defense Trilateral Talks (DTT) with the intent to rotate hosting. The three countries conducted Freedom Edge, a new multi-domain exercise involving maritime, undersea and air operations, for the first time at the end of June to reinforce trilateral responses to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats. A Trilateral Security Cooperation Framework will also be developed later this year to institutionalize the trilateral security cooperation that has evolved to date.

In order to gain the support of the international community for the ROK’s defense policy, various multilateral security conferences will be held in September, including the Seoul Defense Dialogue (SDD), Korea-UNC Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting, and Responsible AI in the Military Domain Summit (REAIM, jointly organized with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs). Cooperation with like-minded partners in Europe, Oceania and NATO will be deepened and multilateral security solidarity will be strengthened. The Korea-UNC Member States Defense Ministerial Meeting, now in its second year, will be held on a regular annual basis, and deterrence against the North will be further strengthened by expanding the participation of UNC members in training exercises.

Third, defense export cooperation will be expanded on the basis of accumulated advanced technology to strengthen strategic defense capabilities. By sharing Korean weapon systems and production infrastructure overseas, strategic overseas locations that could be used in case of war can be secured and economic growth promoted.

To further promote K-Defense exports, networking with major countries will be further consolidated. Defense cooperation will be made an essential topic at meetings of the Defense Minister, Vice Defense Minister and other high-ranking officials in each branch of the military, and defense forums will be held in major countries by region (Australia, Romania, etc.) to proactively meet the various needs of purchasing countries.

In the ensuing thematic discussions, various views were expressed on how to create an atmosphere of focusing on training and improving the work culture.

In particular, to foster an atmosphere in which personnel are devoted solely to training, suggestions were made, such as the operation of training-focused units, the development of scientific training sites and conditions, and the revision of regulations and guidelines to conduct realistic training exercises. Participants agreed that a focus on training is prevalent in the military, with some suggesting the need to increase combined exercises to promote scientific training systems and build a combined defense posture.

To improve the work culture, best practices were shared, such as not issuing job instructions outside working hours and innovations in face-to-face meetings and reporting practices. The results of anonymous surveys of 2,000 soldiers from all branches of the military were presented, ways to eliminate inappropriate practices were discussed, and the continued attention and commitment of commanders to implementation were urged.

In his closing remarks, Defense Minister Shin Won Sik said: “To realize peace through strength, our military must establish a robust readiness posture to respond immediately, strongly and to the end to any enemy provocation and cultivate offensive qualities to defeat the enemy at any time.”

He added: “To win in the battle, the entire unit must be equipped with a fighting spirit and conduct realistic training while ensuring safety, and with strong training, soldiers should be able to feel a sense of accomplishment and mission and have confidence in winning on the battlefield.”

He said that unnecessary tasks and administrative practices for show must be significantly removed and “a culture of hard work and adequate rest after work” must be established for maximum dedication to operations and training.

Minister Shin also emphasized the operation of units in accordance with laws and regulations and a proactive disaster safety posture to prepare for summer weather. He also urged the participants to carry out the mission while ensuring the safety of the troops and the basic conditions for the mission and to build units that are trusted by the people with high morale and commitment to combat.

In conclusion, Minister Shin thanked the commanders, soldiers of the Armed Forces, reserve forces, civilian military personnel and government employees for their dedication and hard work, and asked them to work together to build an elite, advanced, strong military in the second half of the year.