President Lee Jae-myung on the 23rd, regarding the spread of war and the national security posture stemming from the Middle East situation, said, "We must ensure that, whatever situation we face, we can protect ourselves without receiving anyone's help," adding, "Self-reliant defense is the most important core of integrated defense." As instability in the Middle East heightens security risks on the Korean Peninsula and an energy supply crisis, the remark reflects Lee Jae-myung's strong resolve for "self-reliant defense."
In the afternoon at Cheong Wa Dae, Lee presided over a Central Integrated Defense Council meeting to respond to the Middle East situation and said, "We must be able to protect ourselves with no external support of any kind, and now is the time to hold firm confidence that we fully have that capability."
The Integrated Defense Council is convened once a year, chaired by the prime minister, to establish and implement integrated defense measures in contingencies such as war. A Cheong Wa Dae official said this meeting is significant for elevating the status of integrated defense in preparation for a rapidly changing security environment. Under former President Moon Jae-in, this meeting was not presided over. Seven years later, in 2023, former President Yoon Suk-yeol presided over the Integrated Defense Council to discuss responses to North Korea's nuclear threats, among other topics.
◇ Escalating retaliatory airstrikes over "Hormuz leadership"… U.S. calls for troop dispatch
The meeting was held as the United States and Israel attacked Iran's oil storage facilities, gas fields, and then a nuclear power plant, and Iran carried out retaliatory airstrikes on liquefied natural gas (LNG) production facilities and refineries in Gulf countries. In particular, with U.S. President Donald Trump requesting troop dispatch to the Strait of Hormuz from seven countries including Korea, responses related to this are also expected to be discussed. Our government decided to join the "joint statement condemning the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz" released by key European countries and Japan, but it is maintaining a "cautious response" stance on the troop dispatch request.
Lee said, "The international security landscape is becoming more complex than ever," adding, "The most important part of national security is ultimately the people's integrated defense capability, and the most important among that is also defense." He continued, "Defense is a core responsibility that must not be entrusted to anyone else and that we ourselves must ultimately and perfectly bear."
Lee said, "Our annual defense expenditure in absolute terms is 1.4 times North Korea's gross domestic product (GDP). It shows a tremendous defense spending gap," adding, "We are evaluated as fifth in the world in military strength, and our economic power ranks in the top 10. Our defense industry is also so formidable that the entire world envies it." He went on, "By synthesizing all factors, we must have confidence in ourselves and overhaul our systems and prepare so that we can protect ourselves under any conditions."