President Lee Stresses "Self-Reliant National Defense Is the Most Fundamental of Fundamentals" in Response to US Defense Strategy Assigning Responsibility to South Korea

"South Korea Has the World's Fifth-Largest Military Power;
It Is Inconceivable That It Cannot Defend Itself"

On January 24, President Lee Jaemyung emphasized that "self-reliant national defense is the most fundamental of fundamentals" amid the unstable international situation, in response to the new National Defense Strategy (NDS) released by the Donald Trump administration, which stated that South Korea could assume primary responsibility for deterring North Korea.

President Lee made this statement while sharing related news reports on X (formerly Twitter) that day.

He further stated, "A robust self-reliant national defense and peace on the Korean Peninsula are what make sustained economic growth possible," adding, "It is inconceivable that the Republic of Korea, which spends 1.4 times North Korea's GDP on defense and possesses the world's fifth-largest military power, cannot defend itself. A robust self-reliant national defense and peace on the Korean Peninsula are what make sustained economic growth possible."

Previously, in the newly released National Defense Strategy (NDS) on January 23 (local time), the Trump administration stated that South Korea is fully capable of assuming "primary responsibility" for deterring North Korea, and that this aligns with U.S. national interests.

In the NDS, the Trump administration said, "South Korea is capable of assuming primary responsibility for deterring North Korea while receiving critical but more limited US support." The reasons cited included South Korea's "powerful military, high level of defense spending, robust defense industry, and mandatory conscription system."

The report continued, "South Korea also has the will to do so, given that it faces a direct and clear threat from North Korea," and added, "This adjustment in responsibility aligns with U.S. interests in updating the US military posture on the Korean Peninsula." It further emphasized, "By doing so, we can ensure a stronger and more mutually beneficial alliance that better aligns with US defense priorities, thereby creating the conditions for lasting peace."

The Trump administration reiterated the importance of burden-sharing for security costs in this NDS. It called not only on South Korea but also on Europe and the Middle East to assume primary responsibility for self-defense with "critical but more limited US support."

The Trump administration stated, "Our allies and partners must shoulder their fair share of the burden for our collective defense," specifically naming Europe and South Korea as allies that have begun to strengthen such roles. It also announced that it would prioritize strengthening "incentives" to encourage allies to take on greater responsibility.

The NDS assessed that among the countries posing threats to the United States, "although much of North Korea's large conventional forces are outdated or poorly maintained, South Korea must remain vigilant against the threat of a North Korean invasion." It further stated, "North Korea's missile forces can target sites in South Korea and Japan not only with conventional and nuclear weapons but also with other weapons of mass destruction (WMD)." The report added, "At the same time, North Korea's nuclear capabilities are increasingly able to threaten the US mainland," and "these forces are growing in scale and sophistication, presenting a clear and present danger of nuclear attack on the US homeland."