President Lee Jae Myung visited a front-line Marine Corps unit on Yeonpyeong Island on Wednesday. He stressed the need for strong deterrence to ensure peace, on the eve of the 76th anniversary of the Korean War.
President Lee Jae Myung traveled to the Marine Corps base on Yeonpyeong Island, located just below the Northern Limit Line in the Yellow Sea. The trip marked the anniversary of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in an armistice but left the two Koreas technically still at war.
During lunch with service members, Lee outlined three stages of national security. He highlighted making a fight unnecessary as the key to peace, which he called the most solid foundation for security. Peace must rely on strong deterrence to overpower the enemy, he added.
The president pledged to strengthen the military and reform the compulsory service system. He aims to reduce conscription and eventually shift to a voluntary system. "I will reform the system so that you no longer waste your precious time in the military, but that (your military service) helps you demonstrate your abilities in society," Lee said.
Lee also received a briefing on illegal fishing by Chinese vessels crossing the NLL and suggested deploying patrol ships to address the issue.
