The Ministry of National Defense (MND) has drafted a detailed plan for reforming the military, based in part on study of France's military reforms, and expects to submit that plan to the National Assembly in October. It will be interesting to see whether that will add momentum to reform in the military, which has lagged behind even though the country's democracy has seen much progress. The MND says it will pursue reform persistently, through legislation, in order to prevent a repetition of the same rhetoric that took place under previous governments without any action.
It is easy to see how the changing security climate and technological developments mean Korea can reduce its number of troops and enact qualitative changes in its weaponry. High-tech weapons have become the key variable in victory on the battlefield, and it would be hard to deny that when Korea is returned its wartime operational control that will also be necessary for creating the structure needed for an independent national defense. That would appear to be why President Roh Moo Hyun is encouraging reform and promising budgetary support.
There should not be an automatic link between reform and an increase in military spending involving the purchase and development of high-tech weapons. The country needs to possess the ability to defend itself in time of crisis, but money that needs to go to reducing tensions on the Korean peninsula and laying the foundations for reunification must not be wasted inefficiently and lead to a negative result in the form of an acceleration of an arms race in Northeast Asia.
Military reform must be pursued consistently under the larger diplomatic goals Korea must seek in Northeast Asia. The countries representing the new and old hegemonies are becoming ever more open in their discord in the region, and Korea needs to build the foundations for reconciliation and cooperation with neighboring nations and seriously consideration as to how much would be appropriate to spend on an independent military. In that sense military reform should not be left to the MND alone. The government needs to show the country the larger blueprints and implement them in order to win the people's support.
The Hankyoreh, 30 April 2005.
[Translations by Seoul Selection (PMS)]
[Editorial] The Right Direction for Military Reform |
