Seoul: Acting President Choi Sang-mok on Monday called for coordinated efforts from all government agencies, including the military and police, to ensure security against North Korean threats. Choi emphasized the importance of a unified approach during an annual central integrated defense council meeting.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Choi also urged joint efforts by both the public and private sectors, underscoring the necessity of unity in response to provocations from North Korea. The meeting gathered approximately 150 officials, including the defense minister, acting police chief, fire chief, and civilian experts.
“In these grave security conditions, we must stand together as one team to establish a comprehensive security posture that protects the daily lives and safety of our people from North Korea’s various provocations,” Choi stated. He highlighted recent threats, such as short-range ballistic missile and cruise missile launches, balloons carrying trash, and reports of Pyongyang dispatching soldiers to support Russia’s war in Ukraine.
Choi, who has assumed interim leadership while serving as finance minister, stressed the direct link between national security and the economy. “Strong security is the foundation for economic growth and the public livelihood,” he remarked.