[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Establishment of Strategic Command Next Year... Strengthening Power of 3-Axis System

Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop at the All-Army Senior Commanders Meeting: "Legal Revisions Needed"
"Encouragement and Thanks for Junior Officers' Efforts... Improving Treatment"

On the 3rd, the Ministry of National Defense held a meeting of key commanders across the armed forces to review the achievements in establishing North Korea response posture over the past year since the launch of the Yoon Seok-yeol administration, and decided to continue efforts to build overwhelming capabilities and postures against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.

In reference materials for the meeting, the Ministry of National Defense explained the achievements and tasks in various areas including ▲ strengthening response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats ▲ enhancing the execution capability of extended deterrence by the United States ▲ strengthening operational capabilities in new domains ▲ transfer of wartime operational control ▲ strengthening combined exercises and training between South Korea and the United States ▲ and enhancing counter-drone capabilities against North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles. Regarding the response to North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, it was explained that the existing Joint Chiefs of Staff's 'Nuclear and WMD (Weapons of Mass Destruction) Response Center' will be expanded and reorganized into the 'Nuclear and WMD Response Headquarters,' and that a Strategic Command will be established in 2024. The Strategic Command plans to verify its organization plan using the 'Nuclear and WMD Response Headquarters.'

A master plan to reinforce the three-axis system forces has been established, and the related budget has been significantly increased. Going forward, the process of building the Korean-style three-axis system will be periodically reviewed, and efforts will be made to reflect budgets for timely force deployment and to improve laws and systems to simplify the procedures for acquiring related weapon systems.

To enhance the execution capability of extended deterrence, the Ministry emphasized strengthening the operation of the Nuclear Consultative Group (NCG), activating intergovernmental and military tabletop exercises (TTX) between South Korea and the United States, and reinforcing consultation procedures and implementation systems for the timely deployment of strategic assets such as strategic nuclear submarines (SSBNs).

In this regard, the Ministry of National Defense stated that through the establishment of the NCG, a joint extended deterrence foundation between South Korea and the United States has been created, including information sharing, consultation, planning, and execution. It also highlighted achievements such as building a combined defense posture where U.S. nuclear weapons-based extended deterrence and South Korea's advanced conventional forces are harmoniously operated, and increasing deterrence effects by maintaining a constant deployment level of strategic assets.

Regarding operational capabilities in new domains, the Ministry announced plans to expand advanced space forces, strengthen South Korea-U.S. and international space cooperation, launch the first military reconnaissance satellite, secure core technologies for solid-propellant space launch vehicles, and hold South Korea-U.S. space cooperation TTX and space security working group forums. It also explained participation in the Cyber Flag exercise held in the United States and the establishment of a defense electromagnetic spectrum strategy to respond to full-scale electronic warfare.

Achievements in this area include the establishment of the 'Defense Space Strategy' and the 'Defense Space Capability Development Implementation Plan,' the creation of a 'Civil-Military Space Consultative Body' between the Ministry of National Defense and the Ministry of Science and ICT, budget allocation for cyber system construction, and winning the international cyber competition 'CyberNet23' hosted by the Netherlands.

The Ministry of National Defense strengthened combined exercises and training between South Korea and the United States in a practical manner, reflecting the advanced North Korean nuclear and missile threats, and cited the reestablishment of theater-level combined exercise systems and the reintegration of government and military exercises as achievements. It explained that it will develop exercise systems for effective responses to nuclear and missile threats and expand practical combined field maneuver training. Regarding North Korean unmanned aerial vehicles, it presented tasks such as specifying response measures by provocation type, revising the joint air defense operation manual (in October), reinforcing drone detection and strike systems, establishing information sharing and integrated operation systems, and creating a Drone Operations Command unit.

Regarding the strengthening of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, the Ministry explained plans to promote tasks such as demonstrating the combined defense posture at the Armed Forces Day event on October 1, jointly hosting the South Korea-U.S.-UN Command member countries' defense ministers' meeting (in November), establishing an implementation plan for the Indo-Pacific strategy's defense sector, and declaring the 'South Korea-U.S. Alliance Defense Vision,' presenting the vision of an 'Alliance Moving Forward into the Future.'

Minister Lee said, "To protect the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea, I am grateful to all the soldiers, civilian employees, and public officials who are dedicated to fulfilling their duties on our land, sea, air, and overseas deployment sites even at this very moment." He added, "Today, I especially want to express my encouragement and gratitude to the junior officers who are doing their best despite difficulties."

Minister Lee pointed out, "There is still much to be done for junior officers. Although the Ministry of National Defense is implementing various institutional improvements such as financial support including pay raises and expanding long-term service selection, we need to reflect on whether the self-esteem and morale of junior officers have risen to the level we desire."

Key commanders of field units participating via video conference also conveyed voices from the field and unanimously requested improvements in the treatment of junior officers. The attendees emphasized the need to improve the poor accommodations of junior officers, guarantee conditions for taking leave, and create an environment where self-development is possible even in remote areas.

According to data released by the Ministry of National Defense in March, assuming a soldier who enlisted in January this year serves for 18 months, the monthly average pay is about 860,000 KRW, and the government additionally supports a 'matching support fund' averaging 342,027 KRW per month, totaling approximately 1,215,689 KRW per month. For a sergeant (grade 1) commissioned in January this year, the average monthly base pay and allowances are 1,787,701 KRW and 805,164 KRW respectively, with a pre-tax total of 2,592,865 KRW. Adding the average monthly overtime pay (28 hours) and excluding taxes and military pension contributions, the net monthly income is about 2,580,557 KRW.

The Ministry of National Defense plans to raise soldiers' monthly pay to 2 million KRW by 2025, which is expected to reduce the pay gap between soldiers and junior officers to several hundred thousand KRW.

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