Esper, U.S. Secretary of Defense, Effectively Bans 'Nambuyeonhapgi' Flag

Confederate Flag, Symbol of White Supremacy and Racism
Conflict with President Trump Who 'Defends' the Confederacy

[Asia Economy Reporter Minji Lee] U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper has effectively banned the official use of the Confederate flag at U.S. military facilities worldwide.

According to U.S. media including The New York Times (NYT) on the 17th (local time), Secretary Esper instructed that flags be displayed in a manner that treats everyone with dignity and respect and rejects divisive symbols. Secretary Esper emphasized, "Flags are powerful symbols, especially within the military," adding, "Flags embody a common mission, a shared history, and a special, unchanging bond among comrades."

The directive outlined the types of flags permitted for use at military facilities. These reportedly include flags used by U.S. states and territories, as well as flags of allied nations. Although the Confederate flag was not explicitly mentioned, U.S. media interpreted this as an effective ban on its use. The Confederacy was a nation formed by 11 southern U.S. states that seceded from the Union in 1861 to uphold slavery, and it is known as a symbol of white supremacy and racial discrimination.

Following the death of George Floyd, a Black man who died after a white police officer knelt on his neck, criticism of the Confederacy surged nationwide. President Donald Trump has defended the Confederacy as part of American history. When public opinion called for renaming 10 military bases named after Confederate figures, he drew a line, stating he would not even consider such changes.

Secretary Esper’s directive has raised concerns that it could heighten tensions with President Trump. Last month, Esper opposed deploying the military to suppress anti-racism protests, despite Trump’s warning that he would use the military if necessary to resolve the situation, setting up a confrontation between the two.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.