Lee urges renewed inter-Korean trust after DMZ blast, pledges stronger self-reliant defense
President Lee Jae Myung expressed sympathy for injured soldiers, called for gradual dialogue with North Korea and outlined military modernization plans.
President Lee Jae Myung, right, salutes from a parade vehicle with Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul during a ceremony in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, on Oct. 1.YONHAP
President Lee Jae Myung expressed sympathy for the soldiers injured in a recent mine explosion in the demilitarized zone (DMZ) during his Armed Forces Day speech on Thursday.
“My heart still aches when I think of the soldiers who were injured in the unfortunate accident in the DMZ,” Lee said in a commemorative address at the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony held in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong. “I wish them a speedy recovery and extend my sympathy to their families.”
Lee had visited the Armed Forces Capital Hospital in Gyeonggi the previous day to meet soldiers injured in the mine explosion while on duty in the DMZ and offer support to their families.
“The accident was a stark reminder that the ordinary lives we enjoy stand on the shoulders of the risks taken by others,” Lee said.
Lee stopped short of protesting or condemning North Korea. Instead, he stressed the need to rebuild trust between the two Koreas.
“The surest form of security is to create ‘peace’ in which there is no need to fight,” Lee said. “South and North Korea must find a path on which both sides can win for peace on the Korean Peninsula and build trust. We will consistently pursue practical measures to reduce military tensions between the two Koreas.”
Lee emphasized that rebuilding trust would require patience and a gradual return to dialogue.
“The knots in inter-Korean relations are deeply tangled, but we will continue to untangle them step by step with patience,” Lee said. “I hope and urge North Korea to now join us on the path toward restoring trust and resuming the dialogue that has been cut off.”
South Korea’s Air Force performs a celebratory flyover during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, on Oct. 1.JOINT PRESS CORPS
The remarks come one day after the United Nations Command announced that its on-site investigation into the DMZ mine explosion found a violation of the armistice agreement. The Joint Chiefs of Staff then demanded an apology and responsible follow-up measures from North Korea.
Even lawmakers from the ruling Democratic Party have “strongly condemned” North Korea’s actions. Lee, however, has yet to deliver such a message himself.
Lee also renewed his commitment to self-reliant national defense in his address. Referring to the launch of South Korea’s sixth Aegis destroyer, the ROKS Daeho Kim Jong Seo, in Ulsan the previous day, Lee announced South Korea would be able to successfully build a nuclear-powered submarine with its own technology by the mid-2030s.
“President Park Chung Hee laid the groundwork for the defense industry with the urge to begin with even a single rifle with our own hands, and President Roh Moo-hyun pushed that dream further through his commitment to defense reform and [retaking] wartime operational control [Opcon],” Lee said.
Ground-to-ground and ground-to-air missile systems are displayed during 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, on Oct. 1.NEWS1
A former general who assumed power in a military coup, President Park Chung Hee ruled South Korea from 1963 through 1979. President Roh was in office from 2003 to 2008.
“We have carried that dream of self-reliant defense this far. By regaining Opcon, we will bring that half-century dream to completion and make it a reality together with the people,” Lee added.
Lee also emphasized defense reforms aimed at building what he called a “smart, elite and strong military.”
“We will advance AI and manned-unmanned systems, restructure the military accordingly and redesign our overall defense posture,” Lee said. “We will also strengthen the South Korean three-axis system so we can detect missile threats early, intercept them and respond effectively.”
South Korea’s Air Force performs a celebratory flyover during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, on Oct. 1.JOINT PRESS CORPS
Lee also proposed creating a dedicated military academy to prepare for future warfare.
“We need to establish an Armed Forces Academy to train world-class officers with integrated operational capabilities,” Lee said. “We will increase the number of technically skilled noncommissioned officers and shift the force structure toward career personnel through a selective volunteer military system.”
Lee also pledged better pay and working conditions for military personnel.
“The government is actively pursuing policies to improve service conditions, including major increases in base pay for junior officers and incentives for short-term noncommissioned officers starting next year,” Lee added. “We will continue working to provide ‘special compensation worthy of special sacrifice.’”
South Korea’s Air Force performs a celebratory flyover during the 78th Armed Forces Day ceremony in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong, on Oct. 1.JOINT PRESS CORPS
The Armed Forces Day ceremony, meanwhile, was held without the leadership of the main opposition People Power Party, which boycotted the event in protest.
“President Lee still has not even uttered the words ‘North Korea,’” Jang Dong-hyeok, leader of the PPP, said at a meeting of his party's supreme council at the National Assembly in Yeongdeungpo District, western Seoul, on Thursday. “If President Lee has no intention of protecting the public from North Korea — our principal enemy — he should step down immediately.”
This article was originally written in Korean and translated by a bilingual reporter with the help of generative AI tools. It was then edited by a native English-speaking editor. All AI-assisted translations are reviewed and refined by our newsroom.
