President Lee: "Why do you keep feeling insecure about self-defense without foreign troops?"

News1 [Financial News] On the 28th, President Lee Jae-myung said, "Why do you keep feeling anxious as if self-defense is difficult without foreign troops? A nation must protect itself; why rely on them?" He added, "Of course, and fully, we can do it. " President Lee’s remarks are interpreted as aiming for the swift transfer of wartime operational control to Korea.
During a Cabinet meeting and emergency economic review held at the Blue House on this day, President Lee told Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek, "It seems there are some people who feel anxious about the military security sector recently for various reasons.
" President Lee stated, "What is clear is that, excluding the U. S.
4 times higher than North Korea's annual Gross National Product?" He emphasized, "We are well-trained and morale is high," adding, "The ultimate comparison of military power is economic power, and our economic power is incomparable; furthermore, our direct weapon production capacity in the defense industry has risen to fourth place in the world in terms of exports alone. " He then pointed out, "But why do people keep feeling anxious as if self-defense would be difficult without foreign troops?" In response, Minister Ahn replied, "There is a tendency for certain forces to incite and stir up such sentiments.
" President Lee said, "Please make these objective situations well known to the public," adding, "We once had difficult times, but thanks to the outstanding efforts and capabilities of our people, that is no longer the case. " He continued, "We must ensure that not even a few people harbor such anxiety," stating, "We must act with confidence and, naturally, take responsibility ourselves.
" He also inspected the Ministry of National Defense's internal military capabilities and operational readiness. When President Lee asked, "Are you preparing your own military operational capabilities?" Minister Ahn replied, "We conduct this every quarter, and we are continuously conducting research and development by updating our operational reviews.
" President Lee emphasized, "Shouldn't we be fully prepared to defend ourselves, conduct operations, and formulate strategic operational plans?" adding, "We must prepare both tactics and strategies. " Minister Ahn explained, "We are fully equipped with various tangible and intangible spiritual assets and strategic systems that can accelerate the recovery of wartime operational control.
" Meanwhile, at the Cabinet meeting held on this day, 27 presidential decrees, 3 bills for promulgation, 1 bill, 10 general agenda items, and 1 report item were deliberated and approved, including the partial amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Individual Consumption Tax Act.
The amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Individual Consumption Tax Act includes provisions to extend the temporary flexible tax rate reduction measure for butane, a type of petroleum gas, by two months until June 30 to alleviate the burden of fuel costs on the public, and to expand the reduction rate.
The partial amendment to the Regulations on Public Holidays for Government Offices, which designates Labor Day and Constitution Day as public holidays for government offices and applies substitute holidays, also passed the Cabinet meeting. This is a follow-up measure to the earlier amendment of the Public Holidays Act, which designates Constitution Day and Labor Day as public holidays.
west@fnnews.com Seong Seok-woo, Choi Jong-geun Reporter