President Lee Jae Myung Presides Over First NSC Meeting on the 10th
Receives Report on OPCON Transfer Issue
Presidential Office: "Our Government's Policy Pledge"... Cautions Against Overinterpretation
President Lee Jae Myung is attending the National Security Council (NSC) plenary meeting held at the Yongsan Presidential Office Building in Seoul on the 10th and discussing with Sung Yeon Rak, Director of the National Security Office. Photo by Yonhap News
President Lee Jae Myung presided over his first National Security Council (NSC) meeting since taking office on the 10th, during which the issue of the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) was reportedly discussed.
On the 11th, the Presidential Office stated, "The transfer of OPCON is a long-standing issue that has been continuously discussed between South Korea and the United States and is not a new matter," adding, "It is also one of our government's policy pledges."
This means that the matter of OPCON transfer is not a newly raised topic. Since the launch of the Lee Jae Myung administration, there has been growing attention to the framework of the administration's policy on the Korean Peninsula, especially as new security leadership has been established in the Ministry of National Defense, Ministry of Unification, and Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
While the Presidential Office did not deny that OPCON was mentioned at the NSC, it cautioned against overinterpretation. The transfer of OPCON is a complex issue involving South Korea-U.S. relations and the security dynamics of Northeast Asia. By defining it as a "long-term issue," the Presidential Office is approaching the matter with caution.
Previously, Sung Yeon Rak, Director of the National Security Office, visited the United States from the 6th for a four-day, two-night trip, during which he met with Mark Rubio, Secretary of State and National Security Advisor, among others. Director Sung proposed a so-called "package deal" to the U.S. side, suggesting that not only investment but also security and other issues be discussed together.
At the NSC meeting, President Lee urged efforts to restore the severed inter-Korean relationship. He said, "If security is shaken, the economy will collapse and our daily lives cannot be safe," and called for collective wisdom to ensure the safety of the people's lives.
President Lee also emphasized the importance of preemptive measures in national security. He said, "We must comprehensively examine not only the changes in the turbulent international order but also the domestic political situation and the unique North Korean variables specific to the Korean Peninsula," and urged all relevant ministries to unite with national interests as the top priority, focusing on peace, pragmatism, and the safety of the people.
The NSC meeting lasted about 2 hours and 10 minutes and was conducted as a discussion to review and prepare responses to major security issues expected in the second half of this year.
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