News summary on the way home from work, Subsletter Evening.



The Ministry of National Defense has been busy all day.

Minister Seo Wook answered the questions of lawmakers about the relocation of the presidential office at the National Assembly, and the executives went to the office of the transition committee and made the first business report among government ministries.

At the National Assembly Defense Committee, attended by the minister, the opposition and opposition clashed as they dealt with the biggest issues in the country.

To support each other's claims, they attacked Minister Seo Wook with questions.

Let's focus on the Minister's remarks.   


“Promotion too fast… there are a lot of concerns”


Minister Seo Wook expressed concern over the move of the presidential office to the Yongsan Ministry of National Defense building, first of all, that it is being pursued too hastily.

"There are a lot of concerns about the arrangement being adjusted without review in a very short time. If there has been sufficient opinions from the Ministry of National Defense and the military, I think that the controversy (related to the relocation of the Oval Office) can be minimized."

When asked if the transfer of the Ministry of National Defense would be possible within two months, he also said, "I don't think it will be done if it is a normal procedure."



It was said that the relocation cost would also be higher than the takeover committee estimate, but when the Joint Chiefs of Staff is moved to Namtaeryeong following the relocation of the Ministry of National Defense, regarding the construction cost of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, "120 billion won seems to be what Kim Eun-hye (Acquisition Committee) spokesperson said, and our estimate is slightly It's different. I'll tell you that it costs a lot more than that."



It can be seen that he expressed a negative opinion on the schedule or procedure for the relocation of the office, and he expressed an opinion that the cost would be higher than that calculated by the elected party.


"Security during regime change, incumbent president's responsibility"

He also made it clear that the incumbent president was in charge of security until the new government was launched.

"From a military point of view, we must clearly distinguish the period between President Moon Jae-in's duties as Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces and the period thereafter," he said. Someone who has command.”



There is a connection between the position of the NSC meeting chaired by President Moon Jae-in yesterday (21st) and the president's remarks at the cabinet meeting today (22nd).

Here are some of the remarks made by President Moon, who presided over the State Council meeting.


There cannot be even a small gap in state affairs.

In particular, national security, national economy, and public safety must not be left without gaps.

I hope that you will do your best until the end so that there is no neglect in the government changeover period.


Inside and out, we are faced with a dire situation.

Amid the international security environment in which a new Cold War structure is being formed, tensions are also rising on the Korean Peninsula.

It is time for our military to maintain its highest level of security readiness.

There shouldn't be even the slightest insecurity factor in security.

During the period of government change, we should be more vigilant and strive to manage the situation on the Korean Peninsula stably.


President Moon's remarks also emphasize the importance of security readiness and can be seen as repeatedly expressing negative perceptions about completing the Blue House relocation work before the inauguration of the government. It confirms that President Moon is responsible for preventing this from occurring. 


"North Korea's launch of multiple rocket launchers is not in violation of the September 19 agreement"

The military authorities are aware that North Korea fired four multiple rocket launchers (the North Korean name for multiple rocket launchers) on the 20th from the area of ​​Sukcheon, Pyeongnam, into the West Sea.

President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol stipulated it was a violation, but Minister Seo Wook retorted, 'No.   



When Rep. Min Hong-cheol of the Democratic Party asked, 'There was a breaking news that President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol said it was a clear violation of the military agreement. I said.

A military official also met with reporters and explained, "North Korean fire in the area north of the maritime buffer zone is not included in the 9/19 military agreement."



The military agreement signed between the South and North Korean military authorities during the 2018 Pyongyang Inter-Korean Summit contains military measures (September 19 Military Agreement) to prevent accidental clashes between the two Koreas in the land, sea, and air border areas. You can see Article 1, Paragraph 2 of the Agreement to see if it is a violation.

It is Minister Seo's judgment that the launch and drop points identified by the military are not in violation of the agreement.


② Both sides decided to suspend various military exercises aimed at the other side in the area around the Military Demarcation Line from November 1, 2018.


On the ground, it was decided to completely suspend artillery shooting training and outdoor maneuver training above the regiment level within 5 km of the Military Demarcation Line.


At sea, it was decided to stop artillery shooting and maritime maneuver training in the waters from the south of Deokjeokdo in the West Sea to the south of Chodo in the north, and from the north of Sokcho in the south of the East Sea to south of Tongcheon in the north. did.



Minister Seo Wook did some kind of fact-checking, but in the end, he refutes Yoon-elect's claim. 


President-elect's side "Are you covering North Korea?"

Minister Seo was attacked by the elected officials immediately after remarks, but spokesperson Kim Eun-hye, who was elected spokesperson, said in a press release, "It clearly violates the spirit of the 9/19 military agreement to 'reduce military tensions and build trust on the Korean Peninsula.' "It wasn't that the missiles were fired suddenly while not doing so, but since the launch of the rocket launchers 10 times since the beginning of the new year, the intention to escalate tensions seems clear."

He also strongly criticized Minister Seo Wook, saying, "To conclude that the launch of multiple rocket launchers is not in violation of the 9/19 agreement when the location and drop point of the missile launch is not clear."


"Is there an underground bunker?"

sweating at the question

Minister Seo Wook was sweaty when he was asked about the 'underground bunker', a military facility.

I have briefly reorganized the Q&A content.


Rep. Kim Min-ki: Is there an underground bunker within the Yongsan Ministry of Defense?


Minister Seo Wook: We think we don't want to talk about it... Well, yes.


Rep. Kim Min-ki: Is there an underground bunker?', 'Why don't you (answer)?


Minister Seo-wook: ....Rep., I would like you to keep those remarks privately or individually.


Rep. Kim's question can be seen as a remark aimed at President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol, who pointed out the location of the bunker when he announced the plan to relocate to Yongsan on the 20th.

After the press conference of President-elect Yoon, the claim that the location of the military facilities was exposed was also controversial.


Ministry of National Defense, First Transition Committee work report 

The Ministry of National Defense executives went to the office of the Presidential Transition Committee and reported their work, but the start of work reports for each government department was stopped.

It is also said that the longest time was allocated among government departments.

You can read the weight of the defense and security sectors in the new government rankings.



It is reported that the Ministry of National Defense has reported that it will discuss with the US the permanent rotation or deployment of US strategic assets in the event of an escalating crisis on the Korean Peninsula.

It is highly likely that he also reported on the plan to fulfill major promises such as President-elect Yoon's 'soldier monthly salary of 2 million won' and financial resources required.

It is also possible that the contents of the THAAD (high-altitude missile defense system) additional deployment promises or the environmental evaluation of the existing THAAD base in Seongju, which has been delayed due to protests from residents, may be included.



The transition committee announced that the biggest issue, the relocation of the presidential office, will not be dealt with in the Ministry of National Defense work report, because the relocation of the office is not handled by the transition committee, but by the Blue House relocation TF directly under President-elect Yoon.



The transition committee will receive work reports from government departments by the end of this month and select national tasks next month.


a piece of the day


This is Son Heung-min arriving through Incheon International Airport.

Son Heung-min is scheduled to compete against Iran in the 2022 Qatar World Cup Asian final qualifier to be held at the Seoul World Cup Stadium the day after tomorrow (24th).