Yoon Suk-yeol tells top brass to be ready to respond to North

President Yoon Suk-yeol, center, presides over his first meeting of top military commanders at the Gyeryongdae military complex in South Chungcheong Wednesday. [YONHAP]

President Yoon Suk-yeol ordered the South Korean military to swiftly respond to any North Korean provocation in his first meeting with top military commanders Wednesday.

"If North Korea carries out a provocation, we must swiftly and sternly retaliate," said Yoon in a visit to the Gyeryongdae military headquarters in South Chungcheong.

"It's the military's mission to protect the lives, property, territory and sovereignty of the people at any cost. We must show our resolve that we will never compromise on security."

In the meeting of top brass from the Army, Navy, Air Force and Marine Corps, Yoon ordered a "dramatic strengthening of capabilities to respond to North Korean nuclear and missile threats," according to the presidential office spokesperson in a statement.

He added that only a strong deterrence can preserve peace on the Korean Peninsula, taking a more hawkish stance than his liberal predecessor President Moon Jae-in.

"North Korea's nuclear and missile threats are growing and there is a deepening incompleteness in the security situation in Northeast Asia," said Yoon.

"We must support a strong defense force to protect our country's security and national interests. We need to build a strong military force that can reliably deter and respond to any provocations from North Korea and maintain a firm readiness posture."

Describing the current security situation as "serious," Yoon stressed the need to "come up with fundamental countermeasures against North Korea's nuclear and missile threats."

He called for an increase in the effectiveness of extended deterrence based on the South Korea-U.S. alliance.

He also urged the military to independently build a South Korean three-axis system that "has the capability and readiness posture to prevail over North Korea's nuclear and missile threats."

The South Korean three-axis system refers to a Kill Chain pre-emptive strike system, Korean Air and Missile Defense system and Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation plan.

Yoon also called for a "leap forward to become a scientific and technological powerhouse." He stressed the importance of utilizing artificial intelligence-based defense systems and preparing for potential security threats by "applying cutting-edge science and technologies to all areas of defense in a situation where military service resources are decreasing."

He said that the so-called fourth industrial revolution "is changing the way war is waged."

Yoon encouraged the deployment of military satellite and manned and unmanned reconnaissance aircraft, early acquisition of precision strike missile systems and development of space assets, electronic warfare and cyber capabilities, according to the presidential office.

He instructed officials of the Ministry of Science and ICT and the Ministry of Trade, Industry and Energy who attended the meeting to cooperate.

Yoon also said he will increase the defense budget and improve related laws, working conditions and the overall military system, promising to "actively support the establishment of a national defense posture and defense innovation."

Participants in the meeting included Defense Minister Lee Jong-sup, Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Kim Seung-kyum, Army Chief of Staff Park Jeong-hwan, Chief of Naval Operations Lee Jong-ho, Air Force Chief of Staff Jung Sang-hwa, Marine Corps Commandant Kim Tae-sung and Defense Acquisition Program Administration Minister Eom Dong-hwan.

Yoon received a briefing on defense policy direction from Defense Minister Lee and listened to opinions from the commanders and experts on military issues.

The Ministry of National Defense said later Wednesday that it is preparing to launch a new "strategic command" aimed at implementing the South Korean three-axis defense system.

The command is expected to be established in 2024 and will control core military assets including strategic weapons and possibly cyberspace and outer space security assets.

BY SARAH KIM [kim.sarah@joongang.co.kr]