North Korea has showcased its weapons system development by holding an armament exhibition, similar to an arms industry expo, for three consecutive years. The Korean Central News Agency reported on the 5th that the armament exhibition "Defense Development-2025" opened in Pyongyang on the 4th. Kim Jong Un, Chairman of the State Affairs Commission, attended and delivered a speech at the opening ceremony. Yonhap News. 

Guest Editorial Writer, ROTC 40th ClassIn response to President Lee Jae-myung's declaration that "self-reliant defense is inevitable," Kim Jong Un, at the 'Armament Exhibition,' openly threatened the Korean peninsula by referencing the strengthened US-ROK nuclear alliance and the augmentation of US military assets. He justified his nuclear and missile development and made threats that escalated tensions in response to the enhanced US-ROK combined defense posture. 

From the perspective of a reservist who is aware of the recent changes in various threats, the current government's security policy and conduct are moving in the opposite direction of 'self-reliant defense.' From the perspective of preventing war, the current decisions to restore wartime operational control and the 9·19 military agreement, as well as the reduction of US-ROK combined exercises, do not appear to be 'self-reliant defense' of protecting the nation with one's own strength. Instead, they seem to be a dangerous 'self-harm defense' that provokes war by self-destructing and damaging national security.

If we compare the current security situation to fighter jet flight, given that the new Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff is from the Air Force, the restoration of wartime operational control, which signifies the dissolution of the Combined Forces Command, can be likened to a reverse thrust maneuver with the goal of self-reliant defense set in the opposite direction. Delaying and reducing exercises are reckless acts of shutting off the engine during combat flight. Restoring the 9·19 military agreement can be compared to disabling the autopilot and flying visually in a typhoon on the Korean Peninsula.

In an attempt to achieve a "supersonic leap" of hasty dialogue resumption, the current government dismantled its existing armament (broadcasting to North Korea) as desired by North Korea. However, it has fallen into North Korea's deceptive tactics, and surprise provocations, comparable to aircraft damage, are anticipated. Pursuing strategic ambiguity with the motto 'ambiguity in action, clarity in purpose' ('An Mu Gyeong Mu'), and choosing an independent path without close consultation with the existing formation of the ROK-US alliance has resulted in a situation of losing trust from both sides and becoming isolated. It can be compared to ignoring the security lift provided by the allied formation flight and, under the guise of 'pragmatic moderation,' attempting to fly solo, thus depleting the fuel of trust necessary for the long-term mission of preventing war and achieving victory.

1. Reducing Exercises is Like Shutting Off the Engine of a Fighter Jet in Flight

The first condition for self-reliant defense is 'realistic training' and mental preparedness to fight and win. The strength of self-reliant defense comes from the combination of advanced tangible and intangible capabilities, time, and proficiency. The simplification of reserve forces training, troop reduction, shortening of service periods, postponement of the 'National Defense Exercise' citing APEC, repeated cancellations of live-fire exercises due to 'heatwaves,' and restrictions on artillery fire and maneuver training in border areas following the restoration of the 9·19 military agreement deliberately degrade the proficiency with combined exercises and advanced weapons, for which trillions of won were invested, rendering these capabilities useless. This is not self-reliant defense, but self-harm to national security, akin to shutting off the engine of a fighter jet during combat flight.  

No matter how good AI weapons and advanced capabilities are, an army without training is nothing more than a disorganized rabble. Training is an exclusive domain of the military, free from political interference and the maneuvering of politicians. However, pro-North Korean politicians are overtly engaged in actions to reduce and weaken training, consciously considering North Korea. This is a self-harming measure that dismantles the security system painstakingly built. Postponing and reducing training consecutively under the banner of self-reliant defense is as dangerous as a fighter jet flying in reverse thrust. 

The United States is now reviving the 'Department of War' and declaring its return to being a "military that wins wars." Yet, as an ally, we are increasing the possibility of failure in war by reducing training. Reducing training signals that South Korea has no intention of preventing war on its own, which can lead to demands for increased US military stationing costs and even cast doubt on the current government's intention for the transition of wartime operational control. 

2. Transition of Wartime Operational Control is Maneuvering in Reverse with the Flight Objective Set

The final stage of transitioning wartime operational control is the dissolution of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command (CFC). The CFC is the "world's strongest combined system" integrating the US's advanced deterrence system (nuclear umbrella) and high-performance Intelligence, Surveillance, and Reconnaissance (ISR) capabilities. The process of 'restoring' control of the world's strongest military system, with a military ranked 10th globally, is effectively the 'separation of the combined system.' This is a replacement of the torso without a head and eyes, and a collapse of the nation's life support system. To define the transition of wartime operational control in terms that even a middle school student can understand, it is like a hooligan disrespecting their homeroom teacher out of defiance disguised as pride. 

The transition of wartime operational control can be a means to self-reliant defense, but it cannot be the goal of self-reliant defense. The goal of self-reliant defense is to prevent war with one's own capabilities and, if war breaks out, to suppress the enemy and maintain the nation's continuity and peace. NATO member states maintain their liberal democratic systems and nations without self-reliant defense. There are no countries within NATO demanding wartime operational control. 

However, pro-North Korean and subservient forces talk about peace being better than war, but they do not mention North Korea's collapse, free unification, or nuclear armament. It is impossible to hide the suspicion that they are talking about the transition of wartime operational control according to North Korea's directives, much like exposed spy rings. 

3. Restoring the 9·19 Military Agreement is Like Turning Off the Autopilot in a Typhoon

In a security environment where a 'typhoon' of nuclear threats is blowing, the decision to restore the 9·19 military agreement, which restricts reconnaissance flights in border areas under the guise of peace, is akin to turning off the warning system of alert posture. It is treason for the government, while advocating for a smart powerful military, to abandon advanced weapons in border areas and restrict firing and maneuver exercises, thereby preventing proficiency with advanced weapons and combined systems. This is like turning off the autopilot in a typhoon. 

The military will undoubtedly know that resolving the North Korean issue independently without the ROK-US alliance is impossible in a state of insufficient nuclear deterrence and advanced ISR (Intelligence, Surveillance, Reconnaissance) capabilities. Most politicians, having not experienced military life through sweat and tears, are unaware of the hardships that military power cannot be built overnight. Self-reliant defense born from politicians' political aspirations has neither legitimacy nor effectiveness. If the politicians' temporary peace is sincere, I recommend they first try to imagine the act of taking out their own eyes and tying their own hands and feet. 

The military leadership must not be swayed by political power but should solely consider the nation's continuity and the safety of its people. They should envision and pursue 'survival defense,' which designs our system of survival and development by utilizing America's nuclear deterrence and technology. 

The current government, surrounded by four major powers, must awaken from the illusion of 'self-reliant defense' and face the desperate security reality where war could break out at any moment. I urge and implore, with all sincerity, that all previously suspended and simplified training be normalized, and the two restoration tasks (wartime operational control and the 9·19 military agreement) be rescinded and returned to their original state. This is the only way for the Republic of Korea to survive. 

Park Pil-gyu, Guest Editorial Writer