South Korea’s President Calls For Military Reforms to Boost Seoul’s Offensive Capabilities

South Korean President Moon Jae-in has called for an overhaul of the country’s military so that it is better able to check Pyongyang’s threats and take offensive action against the North, the Korea Herald reports.

“North Korea has focused on asymmetric capabilities such as missiles and nuclear weapons, and we must secure means to respond,” Moon reportedly said in a speech before the Ministry of National Defense Monday. “Our military’s mobility, landing and air capabilities should be improved, and a detailed timeline for establishing a three-axis system should be drawn up.”

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The “three-axis” system refers to Seoul’s ability to launch a pre-emptive strike against North Korean missile batteries; the ability to shoot down North Korean missiles using an indigenous defense system; and the Korea Massive Punishment and Retaliation (KMPR) plan — the ability to respond to an incoming missile attack with an attack of greater impact.

Seoul, Moon noted, should disparage the notion it “relies only on the capabilities of the alliance.”

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While South Korea has about 45 times the GDP of the North Korea, its defense capabilities do not match the level of its defense spending, Moon said. He added that there was “fundamental doubt” about where past funds had been directed.

[Korea Herald]