Minister stresses military independence

Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee yesterday called for military commanders and serviced-members to become more self-reliant and less dependent on the U.S. military.

"Our military has become numb to the need of developing our capabilities to plan war and conduct independent missions because we have become too comfortable with the joint defense system forged with the United States," he said.

Lee made the remarks during an emergency meeting of military commanders including chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in the wake of a grenade blast in the country`s forward-most deployed guard post. The incident has left five soldiers injured.

Seoul has been increasingly taking up a leading defense role ahead of the planned 2012 transfer of wartime operational command from Washington, but the minister yesterday called for further effort.

Lee also said there were some South Koreans who naively believe that North Korea would not dare to start a war after years of exchange and economic cooperation with the South.

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"Some say there will no longer be a chance of provocation from North Korea in this era of exchange and cooperation between the two Koreas. There are also some who believe our efforts to build an advanced, strong military run against the current trend of reconciliation," the minister said, denouncing such predictions.

Seoul has recently assumed a more reciprocal North Korean policy under President Lee Myung-bak. Because it reflected an about-face from former progressive administrations of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun, left-wingers claim the government is at fault for the latest collapse in inter-Korean ties.

There are currently some 28,500 U.S. troops here to help deter possible aggression from North Korea.

Lee yesterday said South Korea`s armed services must start better preparing themselves to be ready for any type of provocation, at all times.

"Being prepared means being fully ready to counter any present threats under any conditions with available power," the minister said. "We must therefore continue to be fully ready to overcome all provocations even if the fight starts tonight."

By Kim Ji-hyun



(jemmie@heraldm.com)