LOC16:09
13:09 GMT
TOKYO, Oct 1 (KUNA) -- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said his country will take back the wartime operational control of its troops from the US if the planned retaking of the wartime command is completed, Yonhap News Agency reportedon Wednesday.
Lee made the remarks in a speech marking the 77th Armed Forces Day at the Gyeryongdae military headquarters.
"The Republic of Korea will lead a joint defense posture with Washington by regaining the operational control based on the firm ROK-US alliance," Lee said, referring to South Korea's official name.
"Solid combined defense capability and posture will not only bring peace and stability to the Korean Peninsula but also contribute to the region's stability and shared prosperity," he added.
Retaking the wartime command, which has remained under the control of the top US military commander in South Korea as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, has been one of Lee's major security pledges.
South Korea handed over operational control of its forces to the US-led UN Command during the 1950-53 Korean War. It was later transferred to the allies' Combined Forces Command when it was launched in 1978.
Defense officials from both sides have recently reviewed progress on the conditions for transfer, which require Seoul to secure the ability to lead combined forces and strengthen strike and air defense capabilities amid a regional security environment supportive of the handover.
The transition has long been a pending issue, with past governments either advancing or delaying it in response to North Korea's evolving nuclear and missile threats.
Lee stressed the credibility of South Korea's defense posture, noting the nation ranks among the world's top five military powers and spends 1.4 times more of its gross domestic product than North Korea.
"We also have strong ties with countries that share values, a solid ROK-US alliance, and a reliable nuclear deterrent based on that partnership," he said.
The government, he added, will allocate KRW 66.3 trillion (USD 47.6 billion) for defense in 2026, up 8.2 percent from this year, with greater investments in technologies such as artificial intelligence, drones and robotics. (end)
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