South Korea’s Lee backs stronger self-defence, says drills not aimed at North Korea

SEOUL: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for enhanced self-defense capabilities, while asserting that annual civil-defense exercises alongside US-South Korea military drills are defensive in nature and not intended to threaten North Korea. This statement followed US President Donald Trump's directive to the Pentagon to substantially reduce joint military exercises with South Korea. Trump also noted that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded positively to his outreach efforts.

President Lee emphasized that Seoul should proceed with the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the United States during his term, as outlined in the government's existing plan. He affirmed that a robust alliance between the US and South Korea forms the foundation of increased security, and bolstering each country's independent defense capabilities enhances their overall value and indispensability as allies.

Lee highlighted the need for accelerated progress in South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program and the development of officers capable of integrated operations in future conflicts, as the lines between battlefields continue to blur. Speaking at a National Security Council meeting, Lee reiterated that the civil-defense exercises conducted concurrently with major US-South Korea military drills serve a defensive purpose, aimed at safeguarding the lives and safety of South Koreans.

He explicitly stated that South Korea has no intention of utilizing these exercises to attack North Korea or exacerbate tensions on the Korean Peninsula. Lee emphasized that the primary objective of these drills is to protect citizens' daily lives, rather than targeting any specific party as an adversary, according to a statement released by the presidential Blue House.