Defense minister pays respects to war hero Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo visits the funeral home for Korean war hero Paik Sun-yup at Seoul’s Asan Medical Center on July 11, 2020. Paik died a day earlier at the age of 99.
Someone should have asked the ROK defense minister what he meant by countering threats in all directions? Does he Japan is a military threat against South Korea?:
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo speaks during a parliamentary session at the National Assembly in Seoul on Jan. 9, 2019. (Yonhap)
South Korea will increase defense spending by an average of 7.5 percent each year over the next five years with a focus on building “independent capabilities to counter threats from all directions,” Seoul’s defense ministry said Friday. The ministry announced its defense blueprint for the 2019-2023 period, during which it wants to spend 270.7 trillion won (US$241.9 billion) — 94.1 trillion won on improving defense capabilities and the rest on managing troops, equipment and facilities. Under the plan, the ministry seeks to increase the country’s defense budget, which stands at 46.7 trillion won this year, to 50.3 trillion won for 2020, 54.1 trillion won for 2021, 57.8 trillion won for 2022 and 61.8 trillion won for 2023.
UAE defense chief in SeoulSouth Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo (R) and his visiting UAE counterpart, Mohammed Ahmed Al Bowardi (L), enter the defense ministry building in Seoul for talks on Dec. 5, 2018. (Yonhap)
Here is what South Korea’s new defense minister had to say to his top general officers:
Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, clad in a black suit, and top commanders salute the national flag during a meeting in Seoul on Dec. 5, 2018. (Yonhap)
South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo on Wednesday stressed the importance of maintaining a robust defense posture to buttress the nascent peace process on the peninsula.
Presiding over a year-end meeting with more than 140 top commanders nationwide, the minister cited two pillars of the government’s security strategy: peace and strong defense capability.
“There should be no change, not even a little, to our military’s mission and role despite the easing of military tensions between the South and the North and confidence building,” Jeong said at the start of the session held at the Ministry of National Defense compound in Seoul. [Yonhap]
You can read more at the link, but it seems to me the cancelling of joint exercises is a major change to the ROK defense readiness.
Outgoing Defense Minister Song Young-moo (R) transfers the flag of the defense ministry to his replacement, Jeong Kyeong-doo, during a ceremony at the ministry in Seoul on Sept. 21, 2018, to mark his departure from the post and Jeong’s inauguration. (Yonhap)
A ROK Air Force general will now being taking over as the ROK Defense Minister. This is the first time a ROK Air Force veteran will be defense minister in 24 years. I wonder if this pick is to counterbalance the influence of the ROK Army that may not be as supportive of removing South Korean defenses along the DMZ as President Moon may like?:
General Jeong Kyeong-doo
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday nominated the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as defense minister.
Jeong Kyeong-doo, 58, a former fighter pilot, would take over the ministry as the government seeks to reduce tension and build trust with North Korea, and at a time of uncertainty over relations with main ally the United States.
Jeong, who is set to replace incumbent Song Young-moo, does not need parliament’s approval but must attend a hearing and answer legislators’ questions.
He would be South Korea’s first defense minister with an air force background in 24 years, media reported. [Reuters]
