President Roh delivers speech on the 59th Armed Forces Day
Officers and men and women in uniform, distinguished guests from home and abroad,
Along with the whole nation, I celebrate the 59th anniversary of Armed Forces Day.
I have nothing but praise for the officers and men and women of the Armed Forces who are fulfilling their mission of defending the homeland at this moment. I also send my heartfelt gratitude to the founders of the Republic’s Armed Forces, veterans and retired soldiers as well as the members of the U.S. Forces in Korea.
Armed with nothing but patriotism at the time of its establishment, the Armed Forces of the Republic of Korea have grown into a formidable military to be reckoned with. In addition, it is now contributing to peace and stability in every corner of the world.
I am, indeed, proud of our Armed Forces; they always give me a feeling of reassurance. As the Commander-in-Chief, I have strong confidence in the imposing appearance of our mighty military forces. My applause full of infinite affection and trust goes to all the men and women in uniform.
Members of the Armed Forces,
Today marks the last Armed Forces Day of the Participatory Government. Since my inauguration, I have stressed that I would lay a foundation for self-reliant national defense that is capable of safeguarding our country on our own. And that pledge is now on the threshold of being realized.
In a bid to strengthen self-reliant defense capabilities, the defense budget has expanded steadily by 8.7 percent on average annually. Notably, the cost of defense research and development increased nearly 80 percent to 1.2 trillion won this year from 700 billion won in 2002. With the domestically developed state-of-the art weaponry, including tanks, supersonic jet trainers, destroyers and submarines, our forces are elevating their combat strength to the next higher level. In addition, the newly launched Defense Acquisition Program Administration has taken the initiative in greatly promoting the efficiency and transparency of the defense procurement process.
By 2012, our military forces are scheduled to take over wartime operational control, which is the outcome of consistent efforts by our military to gradually bolster its capabilities. The transfer of wartime operational control will also serve as an occasion to heighten the standing of our Armed Forces. On top of that, the Korea-U.S. alliance is solidly progressing in a future-oriented direction with the pursuit of the redeployment of U.S. Forces in Korea and relocation of Yongsan Garrison.
The Government has been doing its utmost to improve the welfare system and working conditions of the men and women in uniform. For instance, the barracks and officers’ quarters have been modernized while the salary of soldiers was increased. In addition, the Government has also continued its efforts on various fronts, including the improvement of medical services and protection of human rights of soldiers, innovation of military culture and assistance for discharged soldiers.
The Government has shortened the period of mandatory service, introduced a system of salaried voluntary soldiers and expanded the civil military service system. These measures enabled the efficient utilization of young human resources and improved the fairness of the mandatory military service system.
Above all, the establishment of an impartial and transparent personnel management system helped greatly to reduce the distrust surrounding the system, which I believe made significant contributions to raising the confidence of the general public in the armed forces.
The Defense Reform 2020 is probably the most outstanding achievement. The Armed Forces took the initiative in outlining the reform plan and completing the legislation, which even the military dictatorial government failed to achieve. If the national defense reform proceeds as planned, the ROK Armed Forces will be reborn by 2020 as advanced elite forces in name and in fact armed with strong information and intelligence capabilities.
The passage of the military judiciary reform bill by the National Assembly would complete the comprehensive blue print for national defense reform. I hope that the bill will be legislated in the regular session of the National Assembly. In this regard, I ask fellow Koreans to show continued interest in and support for the successful implementation of the national defense reform.
Members of the Armed Forces,
Tomorrow, I am going to depart for Pyongyang to attend the 2007 South-North Korean Summit. Among numerous issues on the agenda, my top priority will be placed on the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula. This is because coprosperity and reunification cannot be guaranteed without firm confidence in peace.
The North Korean nuclear issue is being resolved and the Six-Party Talks are making headway. As such, the environment surrounding the Korean Peninsula has entered a new phase. The road ahead might possibly be rough. If talks on a peace regime go into full swing, however, it would be possible for us to engage in discussion of military trust-building measures, a peace arrangement and reduction of armaments.
The rationale behind these moves is that the establishment of an order of peace on the Korean Peninsula by dismantling the confrontational dynamics is the best strategy for guaranteeing security.
Members of the Armed Forces,
Confrontation on the Korean Peninsula is not an issue that is confined to Korea. It is a part of a long-standing history of confrontation in Northeast Asia. For the establishment of peace on the Korean Peninsula, we have to turn the confrontational order still remaining in the region into reconciliation and cooperation.
This is why the Participatory Government has had a vision of peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia and pursued the policy of self-reliant national defense and balanced diplomacy. For the same reason, Korea has stuck to its own principle on the issue of strategic flexibility, and helped the Six-Party Talks formulate the September 19 Joint Statement embracing a basic multi-national security system.
These types of efforts have been carried out mainly by politicians and diplomats. However, the armed forces have things to do as well. They need to move forward in tandem with changing situations on the Korean Peninsula and in Northeast Asia and need to accommodate the national security strategy of settlement of peace on the Korean Peninsula and security cooperation in Northeast Asia. To this end, the armed forces need to have new strategic thinking, building up military trust and negotiating for peace. They need to cope with regional security cooperation with a flexible and proactive attitude. The armed forces have changed a lot, but I ask them to tackle their tasks in an even more willing manner.
Fellow Koreans,
The situation has changed to the extent that there have been much effort for peace and that peace is well anticipated; however, we should never treat the importance of our defense power lightly.
No peace strategy can be successful without the strong backing of national defense power. In the future, national security should not be dealt with in the narrow framework of South and North Korea but in the broad context of the international order in Northeast Asia.
Looking back on history, the balance in Northeast Asia crumbled when Korea had no power to defend itself. When the regional balance broke down, peace was shattered, and the Korean Peninsula was downtrodden by invading forces. Peace can only be safeguarded by power.
Officers, men and women,
The primary purpose of our armed forces is to prevent war. And in the event of war, they should be able to win every time.
I have complete trust in you. On your shoulders is the duty of keeping the nation safe and happy; in addition, peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia depends on you. I urge you to develop into an even stronger and more reliable armed forces and fulfill the mission entrusted with you by the country.
As we celebrate the 59th anniversary of the Korean Armed Forces, I wish every man and woman in uniform good luck and glory.
Thank you.
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2008년 8월 6일 17:22
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