Candidate Seo Wook Plans Thorough Review of North Korea as 'Main Enemy' Expression

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Defense Minister nominee Seo Wook stated, "If they threaten and provoke us, the North Korean regime and the North Korean military are naturally our enemies," but also expressed the view that "North Korea is both a realistic military threat and a subject for exchange and cooperation for peace and unification."

In a written response submitted to the National Defense Committee of the National Assembly on the 14th, Seo explained in response to the question "Is North Korea the main enemy?" that "'Main enemy' is an expression meaning 'primary enemy,' and there is concern that it may cause misunderstanding by implying the existence of 'other enemies besides the main enemy,' so it has not been used since it appeared in the Defense White Papers from 1995 to 2000."

Regarding whether to re-designate North Korea as an enemy in the 2020 Defense White Paper, he was reserved, saying, "The draft is currently being prepared and will be written after thorough review." The Ministry of National Defense deleted the expression "North Korea is an enemy" in the 2018 edition of the Defense White Paper, which is published every two years. This was analyzed as a measure considering the then-maturing inter-Korean relations. Seo's confirmation hearing at the National Assembly is scheduled for the 16th.

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