Lee Jae Myung Advocates for Stronger South Korean Defense

On Tuesday, South Korean President Lee Jae Myung advocated for stronger independent defense capabilities during a cabinet meeting. He emphasized that the annual civil-defense exercises conducted alongside joint U.S.-South Korea military drills are defensive in nature and not intended to threaten North Korea.

This statement follows U.S. President Donald Trump's directive to the Pentagon regarding military exercises with South Korea and mentions of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's response to Trump's outreach.

Lee reiterated the commitment to the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the United States, aligning with the government's existing timetable. He called for accelerated progress on South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine program and the development of military officers for integrated operations.

At a National Security Council meeting, Lee clarified that the civil-defense exercises aim to protect South Korean citizens and are not designed to target any specific adversary, reaffirming South Korea's intention to avoid escalating tensions on the Korean Peninsula.