"Responding to North Korea Threats and US-China Rivalry... Early Securing of Next-Generation Game Changers Needed"

Holding the Defense Innovation 4.0 Seminar... "Legal and Institutional Support Needed"
Discussing Improvement Measures for Defense R&D and Power Enhancement Processes

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop is delivering the opening remarks at the 3rd seminar of 'Defense Innovation 4.0' held on the 26th at the National Assembly Members' Office Building in Seoul. / Photo by National Assembly Press Corps [Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Jang Hee-jun] The Ministry of National Defense discussed measures to develop the defense research and development (R&D) system and redefine the power enhancement procedures in response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats and the intensifying US-China confrontation.

On the afternoon of the 26th, the Ministry of National Defense announced that it held the third seminar on 'Defense Innovation 4.0' together with the National Assembly's Defense Committee at the National Assembly Members' Office Building. The seminar was organized to present development plans for advancing a convergent and open defense R&D system, which forms the foundation for promoting Defense Innovation 4.0, and provided an opportunity for experts from various fields to gather and discuss.

First, Ha Tae-jung, Senior Research Fellow at the Science and Technology Policy Institute, proposed under the theme of 'Development of a Convergent and Open Defense R&D System' that considering the paradigm shift in future warfare, it is necessary to secure next-generation game changers early, strengthen asymmetry, and establish a hyper-connected infrastructure system. He especially emphasized the need for legal amendments, the establishment of a dedicated rapid acquisition agency, and a significant expansion of competitive R&D projects to improve the defense acquisition system and innovate the R&D system.

Park Joon-soo, Director of the Acquisition and Defense Industry Research Office at the Korea Defense Research Institute, presented the topic of 'Redefining the Power Enhancement Process' and stressed the need to establish a Defense Science and Technology Strategy Committee directly under the Minister of National Defense. This is to link military force construction planning with the defense science and technology innovation strategy. Additionally, he suggested the establishment of a defense innovation platform and integrated development of defense experimental systems as directions for advancement.

The seminar, organized to discuss the promotion direction of 'Defense Innovation 4.0,' improvements in laws and systems, and budget securing measures, was attended by about 300 people including Lee Heon-seung, chairman of the National Assembly Defense Committee and member of the People Power Party, floor leaders from both ruling and opposition parties, Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop, and defense officials from the Joint Chiefs of Staff and Defense Acquisition Program Administration.

In his welcoming remarks, Lee Heon-seung, chairman of the Defense Committee, stated, "It is a time when our military must change proactively to respond to North Korea's threats and the US-China confrontation," and diagnosed that "continuous support through defense budgets is necessary to introduce advanced science and technology into the military sector."

Minister of National Defense Lee Jong-seop emphasized, "The current power enhancement system has limitations in timely applying rapidly advancing science and technology to the military," and added, "To win wars in the era of the Fourth Industrial Revolution, it is urgent to improve related laws and systems to ensure the speed and efficiency of power enhancement."

Meanwhile, the Ministry of National Defense is currently establishing a basic plan to promote 'Defense Innovation 4.0' and plans to expand public understanding of 'Defense Innovation 4.0' through three seminars held up to this day and a defense forum scheduled for next month.

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