S.Korea Military must Become Fully Self-reliant: Roh

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, August 15, 2003

S.Korea Military must Become Fully Self-reliant: Roh

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South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun Friday vowed to lay firm foundation for South Korean military to become fully self-reliant defense forces in ten years. The president made that pledge in a ceremony marking 58th Anniversary of National Liberation from Japanese colonial rule, which was held in Cheonan city, some 150 kilometers south to Seoul.

On the recent agreement reached by Seoul and Washington on the relocation of US troops in South Korea, Roh Moo-hyun said "The US army will contribute to the peace and stability of the Northeast Asian in future as before."

However, "It is not right to leave our national security to the US troops," said Roh.

Roh pointed out even in past years, South Korean military has steadily grown and has substantial power to fulfill defense responsibility, and South Korean forces still have much to be developed.

Roh said South Korean military must solidify the capacity for intelligence and operation planning as well as readjust armaments and the whole national defense system in future.

South Korean and the US agreed to move US troops headquarters in Seoul out to other place and to relocate US 2nd Infantry Division now being deployed near inter-Korean border. About 37,000US troops are stationed in the country.

He also pledged that any realignment of the US troops "will not premise the combat capabilities, and progress of the relocation should be made in light of the DPRK's nuclear issue."

DPRK nuclear issue should be solved as early as possible

The nuclear issue of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) should be resolved as early as possible, said the South Korean President.

Roh also pointed out that signs of a solution to the nuclear issue now can be seen. The comment apparently referred to a forthcoming six-party nuclear talks involving China, the DPRK, the United States, South Korea, Russia and Japan in Beijing.

Roh reiterated South Korea's stance over the nuclear issue that the DPRK must "dismantle its nuclear program."

"When Pyongyang gives up its nuclear program, our country is willing to taking the lead in helping develop its economy," said Roh.

The president also said the promise made in the South-North Joint Declaration reached in June 15, 2000 during summit meeting between former South Korean President Kim Dae-jung and DPRK top leader Kim Jong Il should be kept by all means.

Roh pledged the "inter-Korean various ongoing cooperative projects, including the tour of the DPRK Mount Geumgang," will be continued as before.

The Mount Geumgang tour's South Korean operator Hyundai Asan's Chairman Chung Mong-hun killed himself on Aug. 4, which aroused worry locally about the tour project.

Roh Moo-hyun said "when the nuclear issue is solved, South Korea and the DPRK should embark on serious consultations on building a peace system as well as trust in military matters."

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