Compromising National Security
Does it concern anyone when first President Roh downsizes the Korean military by nearly 200,000 soldiers, than reduces mandatory military service by 6 months, while also removing landmines from the DMZ and taking down key defensive obstacles along the roads, combined with creating great distrust and possible withdrawal of Korea’s key ally the United States? Than to top it off he sends over a billion dollars in "aid" to North Korea to help them feed and equip their military.
What’s next, a Kim Il-sung statue in the new Gwanghwamun Plaza?
The downsizing of the military doesn't bother me, provided the modernization program continues. I'd take a platoon of K1A1s over a company of M-47s any day.
I am concerned about the ever shrinking conscription period. Modern warfare requires specialization and education–both of which takes time. Korea needs to either extend its conscription time or move to a long-serving volunteer force. I aplaud the person who came up with the voluntary additional year of service, but I'm afraid it doesn't go far enough.
Another issue that is troubling is the lack of trust between Ch'o'ngwadae and the military. Neither side likes the other. This leads to mixed messages, poor responses to threats, and disjointed defense policies and initiatives. President Roh had done everything he could to erode any level of trust there may have been in the beginning.
On a final note, the landmine removal program has been going on for about five years now. Most of the landmine removal is from rear-area bases, but the most recent activity appears to be taken place around the Paju area. The landmines had to be removed because the Ministry of National Defense opened more land near the DMZ up for development.
This has always been the difference between Roh and the bulk of the Korean people. The masses only like to pretend the North isn't a threat. Roh actually bases policy on it.