Joint Chiefs of Staff chair nominee Jin Young-seung said at a hearing of the National Defense Committee at the National Assembly on the 24th, "In a grave situation, for the military of the people to stand again, our military must return to principles and basics grounded in constitutional values."
Jin said in his opening remarks that day, "I am saddened and sorry that the military was mobilized under the Dec. 3 martial law last year, disappointing the public. As the nominee for chair of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, I apologize," adding, "Because of the martial law, the military caused deep concern among the public, and within the ranks, morale dropped amid confusion."
He continued, "I will strictly observe political neutrality and, by faithfully performing the military's original mission based on laws and regulations, rally the spirit of the troops," stressing, "Commanders will issue orders lawfully and communicate to build consensus, and subordinates will trust those orders and carry them out proactively, establishing a military culture."
Jin referred to the security situation surrounding the Korean Peninsula. He said, "Uncertainty in the international security order is increasing, and military tensions in the region are rising due to the U.S.-China strategic competition and the prolonged Russia-Ukraine war," adding, "North Korea is maintaining its policy of 'two hostile states,' continuing measures to sever ties with the South, and advancing both quantitatively and qualitatively its nuclear, missile, and conventional capabilities."
He went on, "We will support the settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula through deterrence by strong power across all domains, including transnational and nonmilitary threats, and ensure victory in contingencies," adding, "By strengthening the Korean-style three-axis system, we will enhance the execution of extended deterrence, and through all-around military cooperation focused on national interest and practicality, we will build the posture and capabilities to maintain a stable regional order."
He also added, "Under the solid South Korea-U.S. alliance, we will rapidly build the core military capabilities and combined-joint operations execution system for Korea-led combined defense," saying, "Through this, we will lead a systematic and stable transfer of wartime operational control."