President Lee Jae Myung on April 28 speaks at a joint Cabinet and emergency economic review meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul. (Cheong Wa Dae).

By Kim Hyelin

President Lee Jae Myung on April 28 stressed his commitment to a strong national defense, saying, "A nation should defend itself, don't depend on others."

Speaking at a joint Cabinet and emergency economic review meeting at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, he said, "We've recently seen people apparently anxious over the military and national security for various reasons."

"Of course, we're fully capable of it," he said of the nation's autonomous defense capacity. "We had difficulties at one time but that's not the case now thanks to the remarkable efforts and capabilities of the people."

"What is clear is that the Republic of Korea's military is the fifth most powerful in the world excluding the United States Forces Korea," he said. "Our annual military and defense spending is 40% higher than North Korea's annual gross national product."

He quoted the report 2026 Global Firepower (GFP) Ranking released in January ranking Korea fifth out of 145 countries evaluated for the third straight year.

President Lee said, "Our military is well-trained and morale is high. The ultimate comparison of military might is economic power, and ours is incomparable. Our direct production capacity for weapons and defense industry exports have risen to fourth in the world."

"So why worry that self-defense would be difficult without foreign troops?" he added.

Minister of National Defense Ahn Gyu-Back added, "While certain voices tend to incite and stir up such sentiments, the majority of the public do not share that view."

President Lee responded by saying, "Please make this objective situation widely known to the public."

In addition, the president ordered the minister to boost the military's autonomous operational capabilities.

"We have to be prepared to defend ourselves and devise strategic and operational plans," he said. "We must also be prepared to fully carry out tactics and strategies on our own."

Minister Ahn said, "In that regard, we also possess tangible and intangible mental assets and strategic systems that can accelerate our recovery of wartime operational control."

kimhyelin211@korea.kr