Roh Moo-hyun Orders S.Korean Forces to Strengthen Self-defense Capabilities

Home>>World

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, May 08, 2003

Roh Moo-hyun Orders S.Korean Forces to Strengthen Self-defense Capabilities

South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday ordered the country's military to adapt to the change of South Korea-US military alliance and play a new role in the wake of such change.

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

South Korean president Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday ordered the country's military to adapt to the change of South Korea-US military alliance and play a new role in the wake of such change.

Speaking at the first senior military commanders' meeting since his Feb. 25 inauguration, Roh Moo-hyun told the 120 participants, "The military will honorably position itself as a defensive force to preserve the nation's security," reported South Korean nationalnews agency Yonhap News.

The president said the military must be ready to step in and gain the confidence of the South Korean people in the event of a strategic change in the positioning of US troops.

"Our clear goal is to maintain a strong security posture to consolidate a peaceful framework for the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia," Roh Moo-hyun said.

His remarks were in an apparent reference to the recent local unease over realignment of US Forces Korea (USFK).

South Korea and the United States, which has 37,000 troops stationed in the country as a deterrent force against the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), agreed in early April to move out US Yongsan base in central Seoul as soon as possible and vowed to continue discussions on the timing of the overall realignment process of the USFK.

Local residents and media concerned about the alleged retreat of the 2nd Infantry Division of the US troops stationed near the frontier between South Korea and the DPRK.

As a response to such change, South Korean Ministry of NationalDefense has formulated a policy to develop national self-defense capabilities, reported Yonhap.

According to the policy, the ministry will strengthen intelligence capabilities to counter any enemy invasion, terrorismor limited warfare.

Questions?Comments? Click here

Roh Moo-hyun to Pay 7-day Trip to US in May

Roh Moo-hyun Convinced DPRK Nuclear Issue Can be Solved Peacefully

Roh Moo-hyun: Solve DPRK Nuclear Issue Peacefully

SARS -- an Opportunity China Reshuffles Public Health, Disease Prevention System ( 3 Messages)

SARS Virus Genomic Sequencing Raises Vaccine Hopes ( 2 Messages)

70 Chinese Navy Sailors Killed in Submarine Disaster ( 8 Messages)

Iraq War Reshapes Military Landscape: News Analysis ( 9 Messages)

CCTV English Channel Landing in United States ( 2 Messages)