South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Tuesday called for stronger independent defence capabilities, while stressing that annual civil-defence exercises held alongside joint U.S.-South Korea military drills are defensive and not designed to threaten North Korea.
His comment comes after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” joint military exercises with South Korea and said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his outreach.
Lee said Seoul should continue with the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the United States during his presidency, in line with the government’s existing timetable.
“A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, and strengthening our own capabilities increases our value and necessity as an ally,” Lee said at a cabinet meeting, describing the U.S.-South Korea alliance and stronger independent defence as mutually reinforcing.
He also urged faster progress on South Korea’s nuclear-powered submarine programme and called for the development of military officers capable of conducting integrated operations.
At a National Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Lee said civil-defence exercises conducted alongside major U.S.-South Korea military drills were defensive and focused on protecting the lives and safety of South Koreans.
According to a statement from the presidential Blue House, Lee said South Korea had no intention of using the exercises to attack North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. He said their purpose was to protect citizens’ daily lives rather than target any particular party as an enemy.
Reuters
