[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The Hardline North Korea Policy Announced by the Next Government

President-elect Yoon Suk-yeol is announcing the inaugural cabinet list on the afternoon of the 10th at the 20th Presidential Transition Committee in Tongui-dong, Jongno-gu, Seoul. From the left: Won Hee-ryong, Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport; Kim Hyun-sook, Ministry of Gender Equality and Family; Park Bo-gyun, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism; Choo Kyung-ho, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance nominee; Han Duck-soo, Prime Minister nominee; President-elect Yoon; Lee Jong-sup, Ministry of National Defense; Lee Chang-yang, Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy; Jung Ho-young, Ministry of Health and Welfare; Lee Jong-ho, Ministry of Science and ICT nominee. Photo by Transition Committee Press Corps

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol is expected to adopt a tough stance on North Korea, defining it as the "main enemy" in his campaign promises. According to Yoon's pledges, Lee Jong-seop, nominated as the Minister of National Defense, also indicated a strong response to North Korean provocations.

On the morning of the 11th, while on his way to work, Lee met with reporters covering the Ministry of National Defense and stated, "Depending on what North Korea does, we must prepare additional measures to deter corresponding threats."

In particular, regarding the ROK-US joint military exercises, he emphasized, "An army that does not train is meaningless," adding, "Training is the most basic mission, and conditions must be created to carry out this basic mission." This suggests the possibility of reviving theater-level field training exercises (FTX) if North Korean provocations continue. Theater-level exercises refer to operations conducted on the Korean Peninsula in times of emergency and were carried out until 2018 according to operational plans.

This year's Defense White Paper is also expected to explicitly state again that the "main enemy is North Korea." When announcing his foreign and security pledges in January, President-elect Yoon promised to build a "military worthy of the people, with a scientific training system," emphasizing that North Korean forces would be designated as the "main enemy" in the Defense White Paper and that psychological warfare capabilities would be strengthened.

Furthermore, shortly after a series of North Korean ballistic missile launches earlier this year, Yoon posted a brief message on Facebook stating "The main enemy is North Korea," demonstrating a firm stance against North Korea's missile provocations.

The Moon Jae-in administration removed the expression defining North Korea as an enemy from the Defense White Paper in 2018. Instead, a more moderate phrase was used: "We consider forces that threaten and infringe upon our sovereignty, territory, people, and property as our enemies."

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