Page 46 - 2020 Defence White Paper

the initiative in the pursuit of a peaceful and prosperous Korean Peninsula; realizing
strong national security through steadfast defense; pursuing well-balanced and
cooperative diplomacy; and ensuring the people’s safety and protecting their rights.

Taking the Initiative As a directly involved party of Korean Penin-
for a Peaceful and sula issue, the Moon administration will
Prosperous Korean Peninsula continue its efforts for peace and prosperity
on the Korean Peninsula. Once progress
is made on the North Korean nuclear issue and favorable conditions are set, the
Moon administration will create a virtuous cycle of peace and prosperity by fully
implementing the "Korean Peninsula New Economic Initiative" . Furthermore, the
1)
Moon administration will develop a sustainable inter-Korean relationship through
regular inter-Korean talks, wider exchanges and cooperation across multiple fronts,
and the legislation of inter-Korean agreements.

Ensuring Strong National Security The Moon administration will establish
through Steadfast Defense a robust security posture by realizing
a steadfast national defense with the
mindset that "our defense is our responsibility". It will maintain a firm defense
posture to prepare for transitional security situations and, based on an ironclad ROK-
US alliance, establish a new ROK-led combined defense system by completing
an expeditious transition of wartime Operational Control (OPCON). By robustly
pursuing "Defense Reform 2.0"–an intensive, future-oriented national policy

applying Fourth Industrial Revolution technology–the Moon administration will
improve the transparency and efficiency of the ROK’s defense programs and
reinforce the country’s national defense capacity so that the people do not grow
anxious during transitions in the external environment. In addition, the Moon
administration will cultivate a military that walks hand-in-hand with the people by
1)
It is the core element of ensuring the human rights of servicemembers, improving the conditions for service,
the “realization of a new
economic community on and creating a new barracks culture.
the Korean Peninsula,”
which is one of the three
goals of “Moon Jae- Pursuing Well-Balanced, The Moon administration will pursue well-
in’s Policy on the Korean
Peninsula.” It aims to Cooperative Diplomacy balanced and cooperative diplomacy by expanding
secure a new growth
engine for the economy the scope of cooperation to ASEAN, Europe,
by promoting inter-Korean
economic cooperation and Middle East, and Africa while strengthening its cooperation with the four countries
to cultivate a foundation
for economic unification surrounding the Korean Peninsula. First, while the Moon administration is further
by inducing changes from
North Korea. advancing and developing the ROK–US alliance into a comprehensive relationship

44 2020 Defense White Paper