Lee calls achieving self-reliant defense ‘most basic of basics’ over new US defense strategy

President Lee Jae Myung speaks throughout a gathering with senior aides at Cheong Wa Dae in Seoul, Thursday. Yonhap

President Lee Jae Myung stated Saturday attaining a self-reliant nationwide protection is the “most elementary of fundamentals” over a brand new U.S. protection technique that requires South Korea’s main function in its protection.

Lee wrote the message on his X account because the Pentagon stated in its Nationwide Protection Technique (NDS) that South Korea is able to taking “main” duty to discourage North Korea with “important, however extra restricted” U.S. assist.

“Within the midst of an unstable worldwide safety state of affairs, attaining self-reliant protection is probably the most primary of fundamentals,” Lee wrote.

He stated will probably be inconceivable for South Korea to be unable to defend itself when its protection spending stands at 1.4 instances bigger than North Korea’s gross home product (GDP) and it holds the world’s fifth-largest navy energy.

“A sturdy self-reliant protection and peace on the Korean Peninsula will allow sustainable financial progress,” Lee stated.

The 2026 NDS is in keeping with U.S. President Donald Trump’s America First coverage that requires allies to do extra for their very own protection.

South Korea plans to extend its protection spending to three.5 % of GDP “as quickly as attainable,” and it additionally seeks to attain a handover of wartime operational management from Washington to Seoul inside Lee’s five-year time period ending in 2030.