President Lee: "Even if USFK weapons are redeployed, deterrence against the DPRK will not be undermined... This is not a situation for concern"

According to Financial News, President Lee Jae Myung of South Korea on the 10th addressed recent discussions about the possible redeployment of United States Forces Korea (USFK) assets to the Middle East amid instability in the region. He stated, "If you ask whether our deterrence strategy against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) would be seriously impaired if such redeployment takes place, I can say with confidence that this is absolutely not the case."
Presiding over the State Council of South Korea meeting at Cheong Wa Dae, President Lee noted, "Recently, it appears there has been controversy over United States Forces Korea (USFK) partially redeploying batteries and air defense weapons overseas," before making these remarks.
President Lee said, "The government expects United States Forces Korea (USFK) to fully contribute to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula, and we believe it has done so up to now." He went on, "We have expressed our opposition to USFK redeploying some air defense weapons abroad in line with its own military needs, but it is also an undeniable reality that our position cannot be fully enforced in every respect."
In particular, President Lee stressed, "Objectively speaking, the level of South Korea's military defense spending is very high by global standards. Our defense expenditure is 1.4 times higher than the DPRK's annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP)." He added, "Objectively, international organizations assess our level of military strength as fifth in the world, which shows how high South Korea's military defense capability is."
He continued, "Although there is the special factor of the DPRK's nuclear weapons, it is clear that in terms of conventional combat capabilities and military strength, we are overwhelmingly superior to a degree that defies comparison." He added, "In fact, national defense is something that each state must ultimately take responsibility for on its own. If you rely on someone else, there can come a time when that support collapses."
President Lee went on to say, "If that happens, what are we going to do? We must always prepare for the worst. The same applies to defense or military spending: it is not because war is about to break out immediately, but to prepare for any contingency that might occur." He added, "We must constantly think about what we would do if, by any chance, there were no external support."
President Lee pointed out, "Just as we must routinely prepare for war even though the probability is very low, changes in the international order could lead to a situation where external support disappears, contrary to our wishes and intentions. Such circumstances can arise at any time."
He added, "Even in such circumstances, we must be fully equipped with independent defense capabilities that allow us to defend ourselves on our own. Considering our level of defense spending, the development of South Korea's defense industry, our objective standing in global military power rankings, and the high morale and sense of responsibility of our service members, there is absolutely no reason to be concerned about our national defense itself. And we must continue to ensure that this remains the case," reiterating, "There is no need to worry at all."
cjk@fnnews.com Reporter Choi Jong-geun Reporter