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| Defense Minister nominee Shin Won-sik responds to reporters' questions as he arrives at his temporary office in Seoul, Friday, to prepare for his parliamentary confirmation hearing. Yonhap |
By Kim Hyun-bin
Defense Minister nominee Shin Won-sik said, Friday, that it was desirable to scrap the inter-Korean military agreement amid repeated North Korean provocations that violate the pact.
South and North Korea signed the pact on Sept. 19, 2018. It calls for halting all hostile acts between the two nations to reduce tensions along the inter-Korean border.
"I have always thought that it would be desirable to abolish the Sept. 19 military agreement as it would expose our military vulnerability," Shin told reporters upon arrival to the temporary office at the defense ministry's compound in Seoul.
The three-star general-turned-lawmaker has advocated for the abolition of the inter-Korean military agreement on the grounds that South Korea's military's ability to monitor the front lines of North Korea has been damaged.
However, Shin noted that as defense minister he cannot unilaterally make such a decision and would discuss the issue with relevant government agencies.
Earlier this year, President Yoon Suk Yeol instructed the National Security Office to review the suspension of the inter-Korean military agreement in the wake of North Korea's saber-rattling episodes.
On Wednesday, North Korea fired two short-range ballistic missiles ― the 16th such occasion this year.
"If I assume the role of defense minister, my primary focus will be on considering the directives and intentions of the top military leadership to build a highly advanced and elite military force," he said.
"I will spare no effort to ensure that our troops adopt the appropriate national and adversarial perspectives, maintain unwavering dedication to their core military duties, and embody the qualities of victorious soldiers in battles against adversaries."
Regarding the relocation of independence fighter Hong Beom-do's bust and the renaming of the Hong Beom-do-class naval vessel, Shin said, "If I am appointed as defense minister, I will diligently gather diverse opinions and conduct a thorough review before communicating the direction to the public."
He expressed significant concern about the growing military alliance between North Korea and Russia after the two held a summit in the Russian Far East.
"Should North Korea and Russia establish a close military cooperation, it will have a substantial impact on North Korea's advancement in weaponry. In response, we are actively working on strengthening our military's strategic orientation," Shin said.
"Through robust military cooperation with our allies and friendly nations, we can deter provocations from various angles. Consequently, I will explore multifaceted improvements."
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