President Lee Jae-myung's framing of the return of wartime operational control as a matter of restoring military sovereignty, and his reaffirmation of his commitment to an early transfer, is read as a determination to push head-on through strains that have recently surfaced in the South Korea-U.S. relationship. He made clear he intends to hold to the principle of an early transfer despite caution from Washington. Analysts said he placed particular emphasis on an equal alliance that matches the country's changed standing, declaring that "the Republic of Korea is not the Republic of Korea of yesterday."
Speaking at a tea meeting held at the Chunchugwan press center of the Blue House on the 19th to mark 500 days since the launch of his administration, Lee said military sovereignty is "one of the most essential components of sovereignty" and stressed that "I believe it must be returned swiftly, without fail, for the Republic of Korea to meet the minimum requirements of a state." The remarks signal that the wartime command issue should be approached not as a simple transfer of military command authority but as the completion of national sovereignty.
Lee noted that South Korea's conventional military strength ranks fifth in the world and that its defense budget is 1.5 times North Korea's gross domestic product, explaining that the country is sharply increasing defense spending. On the threat posed by North Korea's nuclear weapons, he said to the effect that "actual combat is not fought with what are called nuclear weapons," adding that "those amount to a weapon of last resort." He also said South Korea "can handle its own defense," and that "if anything is lacking, it must be filled quickly."
The remarks drew attention because they came shortly after Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, voiced caution over changes to the conditions for transferring wartime operational control. Brunson recently said, in effect, that the conditions for the transfer had changed and that new standards must be met.
On the reported discord between the South Korean and U.S. intelligence agencies, Lee said it is "only natural for states to differ in their views," warning against reading the matter as a sign of trouble in the alliance. "The question is simply whether the differences are manageable," he stressed. "Between the National Intelligence Service and U.S. intelligence agencies, you cannot say there are no problems at all, as if they were 100% parents and siblings or a happily married couple — of course there are differences of view," he said, adding that "they are minor differences and entirely manageable."
Lee was especially critical of treating disagreements between states as material for domestic political attacks. "If you make an issue of the very existence of differences, the only way to eliminate them is to give in to everything that is asked of you," he said, also noting that overstating diplomatic friction can weaken negotiating leverage.
Above all, Lee emphasized South Korea's changed international standing. "Our Republic of Korea is not the Republic of Korea of yesterday," he said, stressing that the country must play a role commensurate with national capabilities that have changed from the past — not only in industry, the economy and culture but also in diplomacy and security. The message is read as saying that South Korea, which once relied heavily on the United States for its security, must now expand its role and responsibilities within the alliance on the basis of independent defense capabilities. His argument that differences between Seoul and Washington should be resolved through negotiation rather than one-sided concessions is interpreted as stemming from the same view.
Separately, Lee presented appointment letters the same day to Kim Ji-yong, the first head of the Serious Crimes Investigation Agency, and to new cabinet members. At the tea meeting that followed the ceremony, Lee urged Kim to "handle matters that raise public doubts according to principle, without sorting people into your side and my side," senior presidential spokesperson Kang Yu-jung said. Lee also stressed that the agency "must have its reason for existing recognized by the people," adding that Kim "must always remember that many citizens are watching."