Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Defense Minister vows to fulfill a ‘strong defense to build peace, together with the people’

Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo made announcement at a meeting of the National Assembly Defense Committee held on July 28

Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo clarified the ministry’s and the military’s efforts to achieve the goal of a ‘strong defense to build peace, together with the people.’

Jeong made the announcement during a meeting of the National Assembly Defense Committee that was held on July 28. "Our military will continue to maintain a ‘strong defense’ for denuclearization and the settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula," Jeong said, specifically highlighting the fact that the military is strengthening its capabilities and posture to respond firmly to omnidirectional security threats. "The ministry is pushing ahead with its plan to strengthen the military’s mission capability against non-traditional threats, including the COVID-19 pandemic, as well as improve the current operational system," Jeong said.

Regarding the transfer of the wartime operational control (OPCON), Jeong clarified that it is being systematically pushed ahead on the basis of the strong alliance between the Republic Of Korea (ROK) and the United States (US), vowing that “the military will work hard to make smooth progress in the condition-based wartime OPCON transfer by ensuring the essential capabilities to meet the requirements for wartime OPCON transfer and conducting an ROK-US joint assessment."

Jeong also vowed to apply fourth industrial innovation technologies across the defense area to keep up with the fourth industrial innovation era, and to work to establish a fast and flexible weapon system acquisition plan that fits the ‘technology innovation era.’ Specifically, Jeong stressed the need for ‘safety.’ "With the establishment of a defense safety management system, including building safety infrastructures and advancing safety management through the use of cutting-edge technologies, our military will strive to take a leading role in building a safe country," Jeong said.

Ending his speech, Jeong vowed to "establish a healthy barracks culture that can be appreciated by soldiers," introducing the ministry’s ongoing measures to improve service conditions, including increasing soldiers’ wages, expanding support for self-development, and strengthening employment competency.

Regarding the recent redefection of a man surnamed Kim who had defected from the North, Jeong said "Our security operations posture is not as vulnerable as you might fear, and the military is equipped with systems working normally," stressing that "Many systems and equipment have been upgraded, and they show the capabilities in practice."

By Maeng Soo-yeol  <guns13@dema.mil.kr >
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