South Korea’s President Lee Jae Myung stated that the defence budget of the country will increase by 8.2 percent to 66.3 trillion won ($47.1 billion) and that peace could only be achieved through a solid security base.
Lee issued the remarks during the South Korea Armed Forces Day, about the significance of self-defence capabilities.
President Lee said, “The momentum for cooperation and shared prosperity is weakening across the world, and we are entering an era of increased conflict, where it’s every man for himself.”
He further depicted the official name of South Korea, adding, “To ensure peace and prosperity for the Republic of Korea, we must not depend on anyone else but strengthen our own power.”
Next year’s defence budget, with its ‘significant’ increase, said Lee, would be directed toward investment in state-of-the-art technology such as drones and robots.
The South Korean leader, who is seeking to engage North Korea, said that peace could only be achieved on such a solid foundation of security.
He added that defence expenditure in the country was already 1.4 times the gross domestic product of North Korea.
Lee ascended to office in June, following a hastened election, which came after Yoon Suk Yeol, who had imposed a temporary martial law order, and upon which, the troops and military helicopters were deployed to parliament, among other buildings.
Lee claimed that the reputation of the military was in an “endless decline” and urged the military to win the trust of the people back.
“An army meant to protect the people must never repeat pointing its guns at them,” he added.
