S. Korea's defense ministry releases its biennial Defense White Paper Tuesday
- 5 years ago
The defense ministry has published its defense white paper on Tuesday.
And thanks to the thawing of inter-Korean ties since last year... the report has stopped pointing to North Korea as South Korea's enemy.
Park Ji-won has more.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has published its 2018 Defense White Paper.
The white paper is published once every two years to inform the public of defense policies and future policy direction, and to ensure the transparency of the military.
What is noteworthy about the latest white paper is that it has stopped pointing to North Korea as the enemy of South Korea.
The previous white paper, published two years ago,... has stated that as long as North Korea's nuclear threats exist, the North Korean regime and the North Korean military are the enemy of South Korea.
But this latest white paper broadly states that "any entities that threaten and invade South Korea's sovereignty, territory, people and property are deemed as enemy."
However, it still states that North Korea's weapons of mass destruction are a threat to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula,... adding that the South Korean military will support the efforts to achieve complete denuclearization.
The paper also says North Korea is estimated to possess about 50 kilograms of plutonium,... and a significant amount of highly enriched uranium.
The report clarifies that the South Korean government's so-called "three-axis" system,... a three-pronged strategy to counter mainly North Korean threats,... using the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense system... and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation strategies,... will be extended in a way better suited to a long term vision of the nation's defense posture,... responding to any sort of security threat.
The latest white paper also highlights the government's firm defense posture on the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto maritime border dividing South and North Korea,... as well as the nation's eastern islets of Dokdo.
In addition, the defense report restates the Moon administration's Defense Reform 2.0,... a comprehensive government scheme,... aiming to modernize the nation's defense structure by 2022.
The report also stresses that the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to develop as a complementary, comprehensive alliance,... reaffirming the ironclad military partnership.
It states South Korea is taking necessary steps to prepare for the transfer of war-time operational control in the near future.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.
And thanks to the thawing of inter-Korean ties since last year... the report has stopped pointing to North Korea as South Korea's enemy.
Park Ji-won has more.
South Korea's Ministry of National Defense has published its 2018 Defense White Paper.
The white paper is published once every two years to inform the public of defense policies and future policy direction, and to ensure the transparency of the military.
What is noteworthy about the latest white paper is that it has stopped pointing to North Korea as the enemy of South Korea.
The previous white paper, published two years ago,... has stated that as long as North Korea's nuclear threats exist, the North Korean regime and the North Korean military are the enemy of South Korea.
But this latest white paper broadly states that "any entities that threaten and invade South Korea's sovereignty, territory, people and property are deemed as enemy."
However, it still states that North Korea's weapons of mass destruction are a threat to the peace and stability of the Korean peninsula,... adding that the South Korean military will support the efforts to achieve complete denuclearization.
The paper also says North Korea is estimated to possess about 50 kilograms of plutonium,... and a significant amount of highly enriched uranium.
The report clarifies that the South Korean government's so-called "three-axis" system,... a three-pronged strategy to counter mainly North Korean threats,... using the Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, the Korean Air and Missile Defense system... and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation strategies,... will be extended in a way better suited to a long term vision of the nation's defense posture,... responding to any sort of security threat.
The latest white paper also highlights the government's firm defense posture on the Northern Limit Line, the de-facto maritime border dividing South and North Korea,... as well as the nation's eastern islets of Dokdo.
In addition, the defense report restates the Moon administration's Defense Reform 2.0,... a comprehensive government scheme,... aiming to modernize the nation's defense structure by 2022.
The report also stresses that the South Korea-U.S. alliance will continue to develop as a complementary, comprehensive alliance,... reaffirming the ironclad military partnership.
It states South Korea is taking necessary steps to prepare for the transfer of war-time operational control in the near future.
Park Ji-won, Arirang News.