Hong Hyun-ik, Nominee for President of the Institute of Foreign Affairs, "Possibility of North Korean Missile Drills Due to Joint Exercises"

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] Hong Hyun-ik, the nominee for the President of the Korea National Diplomatic Academy, stated on the 10th, “The ROK-US joint military exercises are desirable and good for national security, but maintaining peace and forming friendly relations with North Korea are also part of national security.”

In an interview with CBS Radio's 'Kim Hyun-jung's News Show' on the same day, Hong said regarding the government's decision to scale down the ROK-US joint exercises, “It removes the very reason for North Korea to provoke us.”

He added, “Although it is a kind of desperate measure, from another perspective, it is a way to manage the inter-Korean relationship despite some trials and to maintain friendly solidarity in the ROK-US relationship.”

Regarding the controversy over his statement in another interview on the 5th that “the ROK-US joint exercises do not have to be conducted,” he clarified, “It meant that ‘it is not always necessary to conduct them.’”

He said, “Training is necessary for military discipline and mutual coordination between the ROK and the US,” and “It is necessary, but our government’s policy is to definitely maintain peace on the Korean Peninsula in relations with North Korea.”

He further explained, “In the past Cold War era, it was believed that peace was guaranteed by unilaterally increasing our national security and defense capabilities, but after the post-Cold War period, peace means mutually reducing threats so that the other side does not feel threatened, thereby reducing hostility and managing the very intention to attack us.”

Regarding North Korea’s expected response to the joint exercises, Hong said, “There is a sufficient possibility that they will conduct short-range missile or long-range artillery training,” and “In fact, it is not reasonable for North Korea to think that they should not conduct training while we are conducting ours.”

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