On August 18, TASS news agency quoted South Korean President Lee Jae Myung as saying the above information.
Currently, the Republic of Korea ranks 5th in the world in military strength. The capacity of the defense industry is rated 4th in the world," Mr. Lee Jae Myung said at a Cabinet meeting.
According to TASS, South Korea has held 5th place in the world for 3 consecutive years since 2024 according to the Global Firepower ranking. Previously, South Korean officials set a goal to bring the country to 4th place in the world in defense industry exports.
President Lee Jae Myung said that South Korea is in the group of leading countries in the world in terms of "weapon systems and military strength".
To continue to strengthen defense capabilities, we need to accelerate the development of combat and command capabilities. This requires a human resource training system," the South Korean leader said.
Mr. Lee Jae Myung also said that South Korea needs to ensure the transfer of combat control over its armed forces in wartime according to the government's plan in the current term. His term is expected to end in 2030.
During the Korean War (1950-1953), South Korea transferred the command of its forces under bilateral agreements with the US, first to the United Nations High Command, then to the South Korea - US Joint Forces High Command. These structures were usually commanded by a US general, who was also in charge of US forces stationed in South Korea.
By 1994, South Korea regained control of peacetime operations (OPCON) over its armed forces from the South Korean-US Joint Forces Command.
Mentioning this issue, Mr. Lee Jae Myung emphasized the role of the South Korea - US military alliance.
A solid alliance with the US and strengthening independent defense capabilities are closely linked and complementary to each other," Mr. Lee Jae Myung said at the Cabinet meeting.
Previously, US President Donald Trump wrote on social media that he had asked to reduce the scale of military exercises with South Korea because these activities could send false signals to North Korea.
