Ministry of National Defense Republic of Korea

President Yoon Suk Yeol makes the commitment at a cabinet meeting

To strengthen surveillance and reconnaissance through stealth drones

To persuade the National Assembly for the budget to expand counter strength

Joint Chiefs of Staff to spur creation of “Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD”

President Yoon Suk Yeol made clear on December 27 that he will speed up the creation of a drone (UAV) unit designed to conduct surveillance and reconnaissance of North Korea’s major military facilities. The Joint Chiefs of Staff plans to launch the Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD by reforming the existing Center for Countering Nuclear and WMD.

At the cabinet meeting, President Yoon said, “North Korea’s military drones infiltrated our airspace yesterday, and this clearly confirmed the need for stronger readiness and training.”

He then emphasized that “we will move the establishment of a drone unit forward as soon as possible and strengthen surveillance and reconnaissance through stealth drones.”

President Yoon added, “The budget to respond to military drone provocations for next year was cut by as much as 50%, but we will secure budget and military strength by persuading the National Assembly in 2023 so that people will not feel alarmed.”

The cabinet meeting passed the amendments of the United Defense Act to specify “firefighting units” as part of the defense forces, and the reorganization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff to create the Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD. It also passed all bills related to defense and veteran’s compensation, such as the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act, to increase financial support for the Installment Deposit to Help Soldiers Prepare for Tomorrow from 33% to 71%, the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Military Service Act to revise the criteria for selecting military service-designated entities, the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Honorable Treatment of and Support for Persons of Distinguished Service to the State, and the amendment of the Enforcement Decree of the Act on Support for Persons Eligible for Veteran’s Compensation.

The Joint Chiefs of Staff will spur the creation of the Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD. It has prepared for the expansion and restructuring of the existing Center for Countering Nuclear and WMD under the Chief Directorate of Strategic Planning in order to effectively respond to various threats posed by North Korean advanced nuclear and missiles.

The new Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD will perform missions with the integrated operation of cyber, electromagnetic, aerospace capabilities and oversee the control and response to North Korean use of nuclear and WMD.

The amendment bill contains the addition of the title of Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD, specifications of missions and task adjustments between the Chief Directorate of Operations and the Chief Directorate of Military Support, and specifications of the organizations and positions not specified under the organization system. The amendment will take effect on January 1, 2023.

Meanwhile, on November 10, the Ministry of National Defense made a preliminary announcement of legislation for the reorganization of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, including the adjustment of the duties and functions of the Directorate of Countering Nuclear and WMD, and collected opinions of related institutions and held a vice minister’s meeting prior to the resolution of the cabinet meeting.

By Chul-Hwan, Kim < droid001@dema.mil.kr >

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