[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Contents of the National Defense Strategy Book

The Framework of National Defense Policy for 15 Years as a Secret Document
Integrated Defense, Innovation, Alliances and Solidarity, Coexistence, etc.

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The top-level document that will form the backbone of defense policy, the "Defense Strategy," is expected to be published next month. The Defense Strategy revises the existing Basic Defense Policy, which was published every five years, into a concept similar to the U.S. National Defense Strategy (NDS) and extends the target period to 15 years.

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 21st, the government disclosed plans to draft the "Defense Strategy" in 2021. The Defense Strategy is a classified document that includes contents such as integrated and proactive defense, innovation and self-reliance, alliances and solidarity, safety and coexistence. These were included in the 2022 Defense White Paper published on the 16th.

Integrated and proactive defense means establishing an integrated and proactive defense posture to prepare for complex security threats such as North Korea's nuclear advancement, intensified U.S.-China strategic competition, and climate change, aiming to achieve early victory with minimal damage in case of emergency based on this.

Innovation and self-reliance include strengthening the Korea-type 3-axis system to counter North Korea's nuclear and missile threats, developing operational capabilities in cyber, electromagnetic, and space domains, accelerating the establishment of manned-unmanned combined combat systems, and enhancing drone countermeasures.

Alliances and solidarity propose developing the ROK-U.S. alliance into a global comprehensive strategic alliance to strengthen cohesion and expanding and reinforcing the global defense cooperation network.

The military has set six key focus areas to achieve these goals: establishing an all-domain national posture and expanding response capabilities, fostering an advanced science and technology military, leapfrogging development of the ROK-U.S. military alliance, defense operations based on safety, transparency, and civil-military coexistence, defense culture suitable for future generations, and fostering the defense industry.

The United States also disclosed its National Defense Strategy (NDS) last October. At that time, it simultaneously released the Nuclear Posture Review (NPR) and Missile Defense Review (MDR) for the first time, designating China as the "most significant challenge" and Russia as a "current threat," while establishing "integrated deterrence" as the core strategy of defense.

The highest-level concept defining the U.S. administration's "defense and security strategy" is the National Security Strategy (NSS). The simultaneous release of the subordinate strategic concepts NDS, NPR, and MDR, as done this time, is unprecedented and highlights the U.S.'s strategic move to actively respond to the "new Cold War."

Our government's Defense Strategy is expected to be finalized after approval by President Yoon Suk-yeol.