President Lee, “This is not a situation where we leave wartime operational control in our hands… It must be quickly recovered.”

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Lim Hyeong-seop and Ko Dong-wook = Regarding the issue of wartime operational control, President Lee Jae-myung said on the 19th, "It must be returned quickly," and "The ROK-U.S. agreement is also basically talking about getting it back."

To commemorate the 500th day since the inauguration of the government, President Lee stopped by Chunchugwan for lunch and a meeting with reporters. During this process, President Lee responded to the question, 'Commander of U.S. Forces Korea General Xavier Brunson recently mentioned changes in conditions for transfer of wartime operational control. What do you think about this?'

Some are interpreting Commander Brunson's remarks as effectively putting a brake on the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea, but President Lee has made it clear that he will bring back wartime operational control early as originally planned.

President Lee emphasized, "The expression 'conversion' of wartime operational control is used, but in fact, this should be expressed as 'restitution' or 'reduction.' We are a sovereign and independent country, and we must receive wartime operational control back in order to meet the minimum requirements as a nation," adding, "We are not in a situation where we will leave wartime operational control (to the United States) and neglect it in terms of national status, economy, culture, or military."

He continued, "It has been over 70 years since wartime operational control was entrusted to us, so the process will not be easy," but added, "We must take charge of our own defense, and we can fully handle it. South Korea's defense spending is also about 1.5 times North Korea's annual gross national product."

He added, "South Korea ranks 5th in military power in the world with conventional military power, excluding nuclear power. Of course, some say that there are nuclear weapons over there (North Korea), but this is not true. Will nuclear weapons be used in actual combat? They are the last defensive weapons."

In addition, he said, "On the other hand, I am grateful for (the United States') good will. It means, 'We will hand it over after checking if it can sufficiently defend itself and operate on its own.'" He added, "I am grateful, but I think it is something we have to do on our own. It will work out well."

Regarding talks for denuclearization between North Korea and the United States, he only briefly stated, "I have no information."

Trade issues also came up as a topic of conversation.

Regarding the tension between Korea and the United States over investment in the United States, President Lee said, "It is not normal for countries to be peaceful without any problems. I don't understand how differences of opinion themselves become a problem. If there is an element of conflict, one must side with one's own government, but this is the first time I have seen an attack domestically for having different political positions."

It is interpreted as a rebuttal to the opposition's offensive surrounding this issue.

He continued, “Isn’t there a difference of opinion between Korea and the United States, Korea and Japan, and Korea and Russia? Isn’t there a lot of difference of opinion among independent and sovereign countries?” He emphasized, “The Republic of Korea is not the Korea of ​​yesterday, whether in industry or diplomacy and security.”

Regarding the issue of 'disharmony' between the Korean and US intelligence agencies, he said, "It cannot be said that the NIS and the US intelligence agencies are 100% problem-free, like a good couple like parents and siblings," but added, "Of course, there are differences. It is not because anyone did anything wrong, but it is just a small difference that arises in the process of each person protecting his or her national interests, and it is fully manageable."

Regarding the government's recent decision to reconsider joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), he diagnosed, "We need to expand our economic territory in the long term, but it seems that there has been a repressive method in the agricultural, livestock and fisheries sector."

In addition, he said, “Now we need to overcome that distrust and restore trust,” and added, “We will soon meet with farmer groups to resolve issues.”

Regarding the recent return of the Panstar Acro after completing a pilot operation on the Northern Sea Route, he said, "We traveled in a difficult environment," and added, "When an emergency situation arises, cooperation with Russia is necessary, and that part must be resolved."