[Anchor]
President Lee Jae-myung attended the West Sea Defense Day ceremony and paid tribute to service members who died defending the West Sea.
He stressed that a peaceful Korean Peninsula must rest on a robust national defense.
At a subsequent meeting with senior military commanders, Lee signaled his administration’s intent to push for the swift return of wartime operational control and emphasized a drive toward self-reliant defense.
Reporter So Jae-hyung reports.
[Reporter]
President Lee attended the West Sea Defense Day ceremony at Daejeon National Cemetery.
It was his second consecutive year at the event; he attended last year as a presidential candidate.
Dressed in black, he paid respects to those killed in the Second Battle of Yeonpyeong, the sinking of the ROKS Cheonan and the shelling of Yeonpyeong Island.
「Lee Jae-myung / President」 I bow my head in deep respect and remembrance for the 55 heroes who defended the West Sea.
He pledged to properly honor and support veterans and surviving families, expressing his respect and gratitude to all who served.
The president reiterated that lasting peace on the peninsula depends on strong defense capabilities.
「Lee Jae-myung / President」 I believe the mission left to us by the West Sea heroes is to create a peninsula free from the fear of war. Peace puts food on the table, preserves livelihoods, and is the highest form of security. Winning in combat matters; winning without fighting matters even more.
Just before the ceremony, Lee paid his respects to the West Sea defenders and visited the grave of Corporal Chae Soo-geun, who died while searching for people missing during heavy rains. He said he was relieved that many had been accounted for.
At the following meeting of senior commanders, the president urged the military to take a leading role in defending the peninsula.
「Lee Jae-myung / President」 A rock-solid ROK-U.S. alliance is essential for peace and stability on the peninsula. But excessive dependence is unacceptable. We will pursue the recovery of wartime operational control without delay.
He also said transforming into a smart, modern force is essential for future battlefields and asked commanders to accelerate defense reforms, including steps toward a selective recruitment system.
After this week’s Central Integrated Defense Council meeting and the rollout of the first mass-produced KF-21, the president again stressed the importance of self-reliant defense.
Observers say his remarks aim to minimize public anxiety amid turbulence stemming from developments in the Middle East and to help maintain regional stability.
This is So Jae-hyung for Yonhap News TV.
[Video footage: Il-hwan Lee, Je-hwan Yoon, Chang-hoon Jeong]
[Video editing: Kim Kyung-mi]
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So Jae-hyung (sojay@yna.co.kr)
