Independent presidential candidate Ahn Cheol-soo pledged to safeguard the Northern Limit Line, responding to an ongoing dispute over the de facto maritime border with North Korea.

“I will protect the NLL and establish an omnidirectional defense system,” Ahn said Wednesday during his visit to the Air Force Operations Command in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

“I will also shelter the people’s lives, properties, territorial sovereignty and (other fundamental) values from harm, under any military crisis situation.”

This was the first time that the candidate paid a visit to a military facility or spoke explicitly of the maritime demarcation.

Amid allegations that former liberal President Roh Moo-hyun renounced the maritime line during the 2007 inter-Korean summit, the right-wing party has been pressing the non-party contestant to clarify his stance.

“Korea now stands at a crossroads of choices, on whether to settle for old-fashioned systems or to advance into the future,” Ahn also said.

“In order to open a new era of justice, welfare and peace, we must first establish peace based on strong national security.”

The rookie politician also pledged to enhance the military system for its personnel arrangement and ensure the terms of top commanders including the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

“The military headquarters should be allowed to make its own personnel selection in order to remain politically independent from the presidential house,” Ahn said.

“The term of office of major commanders should be guaranteed by the law as to stabilize order in the command lines.”

The candidate also visited a marine forces headquarters in Gimpo in the afternoon, continuing to underline his focus on national security and inter-Korean issues.

By Bae Hyun-jung (tellme@heraldcorp.com)