Basic Textbook for Mental Warfare Training: Intensive Reinforcement of Enemy Perspective

Ministry of National Defense to Distribute Basic Textbook for Psychological Warfare Education This Month
'North Korean Regime and North Korean Military Are Clearly Our Enemies'

The Ministry of National Defense has newly revised and published the 'Basic Textbook for Mental Power Education,' which further strengthens the perspective on the enemy and the soldier's spirit.

[Image source=Yonhap News]

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 26th, the Basic Textbook for Mental Power Education serves as the standard guide for soldiers' mental power education. The Ministry plans to distribute it throughout the entire military for use during soldiers' mental power training.

This textbook focuses on clearly recognizing the enemy that our soldiers must confront amid the severe security situation, including the recent advancement of North Korea's nuclear and missile capabilities and escalating provocations against the South. Additionally, it has been revised to instill a correct national perspective regarding the homeland to be protected and a combat-focused, victorious soldier's spirit.

A Ministry of National Defense official stated, "First, to clearly establish the perspective on the enemy to be confronted, it explicitly states that 'the North Korean regime and the North Korean military are our clear enemies.'" In particular, the official emphasized, "It specifies forces that deny the legitimacy of the Republic of Korea and the liberal democratic system, remain silent about North Korea's three-generation hereditary succession and human rights abuses, and uncritically follow them as 'internal threat forces.'" The designation of forces that do not criticize North Korea as enemies has sparked controversy.

The textbook is divided into three major areas: national perspective, enemy perspective, and soldier's spirit. Each area consists of three tasks, totaling nine tasks. The enemy perspective section has been significantly enhanced. The previous security perspective section was renamed 'enemy perspective,' and it clearly states that 'the North Korean regime and the North Korean military are our clear enemies,' enabling our military to clearly recognize the enemy they must fight and defeat.

It specifically describes the causes and responsibilities of the outbreak of the Korean War, lessons from the war, and related content. It details North Korea's continuous provocations against the South since the armistice, including the recent advancement of nuclear and missile capabilities and violations of the September 19 military agreement, to help understand the reality of the North Korean threat. It clearly describes North Korea's human rights issues and severe economic difficulties. It emphasizes the Korea-US alliance, which has developed into a global comprehensive strategic alliance, a solid combined defense posture, and strengthened solidarity with value-sharing countries.

This textbook has been reinforced to help soldiers cultivate a correct national perspective. Accordingly, it focuses on the founding process and the development of the Republic of Korea Armed Forces after its establishment. It emphasizes the superiority of the values of the Republic of Korea, liberal democracy, and the market economy system compared to the three-generation hereditary system.

It also strengthens empirical content centered on the battlefield to cultivate a victorious soldier's spirit. To guarantee victory on the battlefield, it clearly explains and enables soldiers to understand and practice the unique characteristics of military organizations, compliance with the laws of war, and the duties and responsibilities of soldiers, based on relevant laws and regulations.

A Ministry of National Defense official explained, "According to North Korea's strategy for southern communist unification, it has been establishing underground parties throughout our society since the 1960s." The official added, "Even after 2000, incidents such as the Ilshimhoe case, the Wangjaesan spy group case, and in 2014, the dissolution of a political party under the National Security Act due to a member of the National Assembly's charge of inciting rebellion are clear facts stipulated by law." The official continued, "It is an essential task to clearly make our soldiers aware of the dangers of such forces to strengthen soldiers' mental power," adding, "Denying or neglecting this is tantamount to siding with North Korea's claims or benefiting the enemy."

Meanwhile, each unit plans to strengthen soldiers' mental power by promoting substantial mental power education through commanders and political officers' belief reinforcement, using the publication of the 'Basic Textbook for Mental Power Education' as an opportunity.