Ulsan:President Lee Jae Myung pledged on Wednesday to enhance South Korea's capabilities to independently defend itself, emphasizing that self-reliant national defense is synonymous with sovereignty.
According to Yonhap News Agency, President Lee made these remarks during a televised ceremony in Ulsan, marking the launch of the ROKS Daeho Kim Jong Seo, the final ship in Seoul's 8,200-ton Aegis destroyer fleet. This destroyer, named after a historical Joseon-era general, is part of the Gwanggaeto-III Batch-II project and concludes Seoul's initiative to build six indigenous Aegis-equipped destroyers.
President Lee highlighted the vulnerabilities of relying on foreign powers for national security, noting that such dependencies can falter with changes in a country's circumstances. He underscored the importance of self-defensive capabilities, stating that the ability to defend themselves allows South Korea to determine its future. He praised the launch of the Aegis ship as a demonstration of South Korea's ability to design and construct top-class military vessels independently and committed to pursuing self-reliant national defense.
The president also outlined plans to bolster South Korea's military assets, including the addition of nuclear-powered submarines and manned-unmanned teaming carriers, to further strengthen self-reliant defense capabilities.
Furthermore, Lee emphasized the defense industry's role as a strategic sector, advocating for the integration of advanced technologies to maintain a significant competitive edge globally. He expressed his commitment to advancing the shipbuilding industry and pledged support for the local defense sector to become a new economic growth driver through exports and international cooperation.