[Editorial] New Pres.`s Welcome Security Measures

President-elect Lee Myung-bak visited the Defense Ministry yesterday and wrote in the guest book, “The nation trusts and loves you.”

During his meeting with top military leaders including the defense minister and the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Lee said, “A strong military can prevent war and secure peace.” He is said to have asked the presidential office Cheong Wa Dae earlier for permission to visit the ministry.

The administrations of Kim Dae-jung and Roh Moo-hyun held inter-Korean summits and poured hefty amounts of money into North Korea. Pyongyang, however, returned the favor by developing nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Against this backdrop, the president-elect’s “security move” can be interpreted that South Korea should be wary of naïveté on leadership change in the North and maintain high quality of national defense.

President Roh has kept catering to Pyongyang, such as eliminating the term “major enemy” when referring to the North in a 2004 defense white paper. High-ranking officials have also made absurd comments demeaning our military. President Roh even criticized soldiers fulfilling their duty by saying young people waste their youth while serving their mandatory military duty.” He also snubbed the memorial service for naval officers killed in an inter-Korean sea clash in 2002, and did not allow their funeral to be held as a national ceremony. Until now, the commander of the Navy’s 2nd Fleet had handled the memorial service. The commander-in-chief himself has put inter-Korean relations before national defense and security, which he considers a stumbling block in improving ties.

The inter-Korean border is the most heavily armed and guarded border in the world, with 1.8 million soldiers. A solid military is necessary for deterring war and preserving peace, and this is the raison d’etre of the military. World history proves that negotiations for a peace regime without a reliable military capacity are just meaningless.

The military needs to reflect on if it has forgotten its obligation while seeking favor with the administration’s intention. It needs to strengthen lax discipline and reform insufficient systems. We expect the launch of the next administration will serve as an opportunity for reviving trust in the military and building stronger national security.