Page 48 - 2020 Defence White Paper
P. 48

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 conf dence 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




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