Yoon Seok-yeol "Peace is the Result of Overwhelming Power"
Lee Jae-myung "Peace, Not War"
Ahn Cheol-soo "Strong Defense Capable of Repelling"
[Asia Economy Reporter Park Jun-yi] During the Lunar New Year holiday, presidential candidates clashed over security policies. As North Korea heightened military tensions with consecutive missile launches, the candidates emphasized 'securing strong military power,' but showed differing views on additional THAAD deployments and acquiring preemptive strike capabilities.
Candidate Yoon posted a one-line pledge on Facebook on the 30th of last month stating 'Additional THAAD deployment.' This was in response to North Korea's launch of a medium-range ballistic missile into the East Sea that day. On Lunar New Year's Day, February 1st, he visited the Ganghwa Peace Observatory in Ganghwa County, Incheon, saying, "We will build a multi-layered missile defense system including THAAD to firmly protect the safety of our citizens from North Korea's nuclear missile threats in the metropolitan area and northern Gyeonggi Province," continuing his security-focused activities. This appears to be an effort to rally conservative supporters amid recent North Korean provocations.
Candidate Yoon has been emphasizing 'strong security' daily. On the 1st in Ganghwa Island, Incheon, he stated, "Peaceful unification is possible when we have strength," adding, "Peace is not something to beg for or merely shout about; it must be backed by power for us to achieve the free, peaceful, and prosperous unification we desire." This reflects his stance to maintain peace by strengthening national military power sufficient to deter North Korean provocations.
The 'additional THAAD deployment' pledge means deploying THAAD through self-purchase rather than relying on the U.S. Forces Korea. This is because the current THAAD battery in Seongju cannot defend the metropolitan area and northern Gyeonggi Province. However, additional THAAD deployment will inevitably worsen relations not only with North Korea but also with China. Candidate Yoon also mentioned the possibility of preemptive strikes. He previously pledged to establish a 'Korean-style three-axis system,' including preemptive strike capability (Kill Chain), to deter North Korea's nuclear and missile provocations.
At a press conference announcing his 'diplomatic and security policy' on the 24th of last month, Candidate Yoon criticized the current administration's security strategy, saying, "Despite North Korea taking no substantive steps toward denuclearization and continuing provocations, this government is the most abnormal for advocating lifting economic sanctions on North Korea first and acting as its spokesperson."
On the other hand, Candidate Lee presents a security strategy that partly contrasts with Candidate Yoon's. While both agree on strengthening defense capabilities, Lee emphasizes defense and peace maintenance as the purpose.
Candidate Lee opposes 'additional THAAD deployment' and advocates building a system that can maintain peace. On the 31st of last month, he posted on Facebook, "If war breaks out, the youth die, and if military tensions rise, the already struggling economy worsens. It is not the role of a presidential candidate to raise military tensions by advocating preemptive strikes while opposing the return of wartime operational control," adding, "Efforts to create and maintain peace, though difficult, are far more important than winning after millions die and are injured."
He further emphasized the peace theme by sharing a brief message on Facebook: "Not hatred but unity, not war but peace, a competent economic president."
As a way to realize this, he proposed 'innovation within the military.' At his security policy announcement on the 24th of last month, Candidate Lee said, "We must equip the patriotism of youth with innovative new weapons," and "We need security that fits the times and defense innovation that leads the era." He declared plans to create a 400,000-strong 'smart strong army' and modernize weapon systems such as unmanned surveillance and reconnaissance systems and manned-unmanned combined combat systems. He also promised to assign technology-intensive combat non-commissioned officers and civilian employees instead of conscripts.
Meanwhile, Ahn Cheol-soo, the conservative opposition candidate from the People’s Party, also advocates 'securing strong military response capabilities' like Candidate Yoon. On the 2nd, Ahn stated on Facebook, "Security policy must not be lukewarm," adding, "We must warn North Korea and reassure our people by building a strong defense system capable of immediately repelling any North Korean provocation."
To this end, he proposed 'strengthening air force power.' He asserted, "We will completely dominate air superiority over the Korean Peninsula with a strong air force," emphasizing securing air superiority. His detailed plans include additional purchases of state-of-the-art high-grade fighter jets and reexamining military strategic weapon acquisition projects.
On the 3rd, the four candidates?Lee Jae-myung, Yoon Seok-yeol, Sim Sang-jung, and Ahn Cheol-soo?are scheduled to hold a joint TV debate on terrestrial broadcasting, discussing various topics including diplomacy and security.
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