Defense Minister Seo Wook: "Supporting Peace through Faithful Implementation of Inter-Korean Military Agreement"

Inaugural Speech of the Minister of National Defense: "Swift Promotion of Wartime Operational Control Transfer"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter]Seo Wook, the newly appointed Minister of National Defense, stated, "We will support the advancement of the Korean Peninsula peace process through the faithful implementation of the historic September 19 Military Agreement."

Minister Seo said during his inauguration speech at the Ministry of National Defense building in Yongsan-gu, Seoul, on the afternoon of the 18th, "Despite the efforts of our government and the international community to establish peace, North Korea has been reluctant to take steps to improve the security environment on the Korean Peninsula."

Minister Seo added, "We will establish a firm defense posture to support the complete denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and the establishment of lasting peace," and said, "Establishing a firm defense posture is achieved through efficient weapons and operational systems, a strong will to accomplish missions, and continuous training."

Regarding the security situation on the Korean Peninsula, he assessed, "Tensions are rising in the region due to neighboring countries pursuing their own national interests," and "Recently, transnational and non-military threats such as COVID-19, disasters, and terrorism have emerged as challenges to national security."

Minister Seo also announced that the transfer of wartime operational control will be promptly pursued.

He explained, "Based on the strong ROK-U.S. alliance, we must accelerate the transfer of wartime operational control, which is a demand of the times," and added, "We will precisely evaluate the capabilities our military has accumulated so far, including the core military capabilities of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces, to meet the transfer conditions at an early stage."

Minister Seo emphasized the creation of a 'happy defense environment,' mentioning improvements to officers' quarters and guaranteeing command authority for junior officers.

He said, "We must create a culture where we can feel pride as a community," and "Through boosting morale, we will continuously develop the military into one that soldiers are proud of." He also stated, "We will clearly predict and actively respond to future battlefields based on technological advancements, including artificial intelligence, robotics, biotechnology, and space," and "We must actively utilize the science and technology of the Fourth Industrial Revolution era."

Minister Seo said, "'We must become a 'trusted and united military by the people,'" and added, "If we have the spirit of 'Jultakdongsi'?the idea that both the inside and outside must work together to achieve great things?we can overcome many difficulties."

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