Lee Jong-seop Defense Minister: "North Korea Response Measures Will Differ from Previous Governments"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Defense Minister Lee Jong-seop stated that the response measures toward North Korea will differ from those of past administrations.

On the 23rd, Minister Lee met with reporters covering the Ministry of National Defense and, while prefacing that it is not appropriate to explain or evaluate how the previous government handled things, he emphasized, "I believe you will feel the difference when you see what the current administration is doing going forward."

Regarding the joint statement from the Korea-US summit on the 21st, where President Yoon Seok-yeol and US President Joe Biden began discussions on timely deployment of US strategic assets such as long-range bombers, nuclear aircraft carriers, and nuclear submarines in case of emergency, he stressed, "If you become familiar with the detailed process of Korea-US consultations on the deployment of US nuclear-powered submarines or carrier strike groups during past administrations, you will feel that the current government is different."

Minister Lee emphasized the execution capability of extended deterrence. He explained, "Although the concept itself has not changed since nuclear weapons were included in extended deterrence in the past, we will act more concretely and proactively than before to enhance the execution capability of extended deterrence."

He added, "Broadly speaking, we aim to bring two dimensions of deterrence: deterrence to prevent North Korea from provoking, and deterrence to prevent it from using its capabilities even if it has them," and explained, "It should be understood as a measure to show deterrence, not as a concept of striking first while North Korea remains inactive."

Regarding the visit of the two leaders to Osan Korea Aerospace Operations Command (KAOC) on the 22nd as President Biden’s final domestic schedule, Minister Lee said, "While dialogue between leaders is usually conceptual and comprehensive, the visit to KAOC can be seen as adding a great deal of specificity."

This is interpreted as a clear warning message to North Korea, given that KAOC is a confidential facility that monitors the entire airspace over North Korea and the Korean Peninsula and oversees strikes in case of emergency.