Lee says self-reliant national defense is sovereignty itself
President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday pledged efforts to secure the capabilities to defend the country on its own, saying self-reliant national defense means sovereignty itself. The president made the remarks at a televised ceremony held in Ulsan, some 310 kilometers southeast of Seoul, to mark the launch of the ROKS Daeho Kim Jong Seo, the third and final ship of the 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer…
President Lee Jae Myung emphasized the importance of self-reliant national defense as the cornerstone of South Korea's sovereignty during a televised ceremony in Ulsan, held to commemorate the launch of the ROKS Daeho Kim Jong Seo. This marks the completion of the strategic Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II project, which aimed to acquire six indigenous Aegis-equipped destroyers.
The ship, named after a Joseon-era general, symbolizes the final vessel in this ambitious plan. Lee stressed that national security dependent on foreign powers is inherently unstable and subject to change with shifting circumstances and environments. He firmly stated that self-reliant national defense is, in essence, sovereignty itself.
By possessing the capability to defend the nation independently, South Korea gains the power to shape its own future, he highlighted. The launch of the Aegis-equipped destroyer underscores South Korea's ability to design and construct top-tier military vessels domestically, asserting its military prowess on the global stage.
Written by urgent.news from The Korea Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
Also reported by 2 other outlets
- Lee says self-reliant national defense is sovereignty itself koreatimes.co.kr
- Lee says self-reliant national defense is sovereignty itself en.yna.co.kr
