Page 48 - 2020 Defence White Paper

Section

2 National Defense Policy and
Military Strategy

The Ministry of National Defense (MND) is pursuing six National Defense Policy (NDP)
tenets to realize the vision of a "competent security and robust national defense". The
MND will continue to carry out the fundamental mission of maintaining a robust military
readiness posture and gain the public’s faith in the ROK Armed Forces by cultivating a
barracks culture that is attractive to both prospective servicemembers as well as their
family. Furthermore, the MND will support the establishment of permanent peace on the
Korean Peninsula with strength by reinforcing the national defense capabilities of the
ROK based on the solid ROK–US alliance.

1. National Defense Objectives

The national defense objectives are "protecting the nation from external military
threats and invasion"; "supporting a peaceful unification of the Korean Peninsula";
and "contributing to regional stability and world peace".

Protecting the Nation from The ROK Armed Forces considers
External Military Threats and Invasion any force that threatens and violates
the sovereignty, territory, people,

and properties of the ROK as an enemy. The relationship between South and
North Korea has alternated between military confrontation, reconciliation, and
cooperation. However, a new security environment was shaped in 2018 for the
denuclearization and the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula with
three inter-Korean summits, as well as the first-ever US–North Korea summit. In
particular, in September 2018, the military authorities of the two Koreas signed and
began the implementation of the "Agreement to Implement the Historic Panmunjom
Declaration in the Military Domain", thereby creating a foundation for easing
military tension and confidence building.
Nevertheless, North Korea’s WMDs are a threat to peace and stability on the
Korean Peninsula. Consequently, the ROK Armed Forces will provide military
support towards complete denuclearization and establishment of permanent peace
on the Korean Peninsula and will continue to prepare for all possible situations. In
addition, the ROK Armed Forces will continue to advance their ability to respond to

46 2020 Defense White Paper