Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

Moon stressed “strong national defense power,” while receiving a briefing on pending national defense issues from new military commanders

Moon ordered the military to make up a defense budget that would ensure strong forces;

stressed the importance of “close consultations” between Republic of Korea and U.S. for the OPCON transition;

ordered the military to faithfully implement the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement 

On May 3rd, President Moon Jae-in instructed the military to keep trying to relieve military tensions on the Korean Peninsula and build trust with the North by speedily pushing ahead with “Defense Reform 2.0” with fierce determination and faithfully implementing the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement in consideration of the rapidly changing security situation on the peninsula.

President Moon made the remarks while receiving a briefing on pending defense issues from Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Park Han-ki, and the new top military commanders, including Minister of National Defense Jeong Kyeong-doo, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Park Han-ki, Army Chief of Staff General Suh Wook, Navy Chief of Staff General Shim Seung-seop, Air Force Chief of Staff General Won In-choul, and Marine Corps Chief Lee Seung-do, at Cheong Wa Dae. It is the first session since a reshuffle of the top commanders of the Army, the Navy, the Air Force and Marine Corps last month. 

President Moon also ordered them to draw up a 2020 defense budget for strong forces, which have the capability of keeping peace and stability not only on the Korean Peninsula but also in Northeast Asia based on an unshakable Republic of Korea-US alliance. 

“Fierce determination” was something President Moon stressed when he received a report on military generals’ promotion and assignment on April 15th. 

“In particular, I want to ask you to have fierce determination. It is time for us to have fierce determination for a stronger national defense; keeping our national defense for ourselves, overcoming even the division of territory in the end, and establishing safety and peace in Northeast Asia on the basis of the Republic of Korea-US alliance,” Moon said during the report.

Meanwhile, the military commanders said that they will have full consultations with the US based on the robust Republic of Korea-US alliance to push ahead with a transition of wartime operational control (OPCON), while reporting the situation of Defense Reform 2.0, the implementation of the Sept. 19 inter-Korean military agreement, and ways to draw up the 2020 defense budget.

President Moon then instructed them to continue close consultations in line with the Republic of Korea-US alliance to ensure Republic of Korea has stronger defense capabilities, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

By Joo-Hyeong, Lee < jataka@dema.mil.kr >

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