In the wake of North Korea’s artillery shelling of South Korea’s Yeonpyeong Island in the West Sea, the South’s military is seeking to bolster its defense capability around the five islands that are located near the disputed West Sea border and to beef up combat forces on the islands to protect civilians, soldiers and military assets. On December 6, the military resumed live-fire maritime shooting drills, which had been suspended since the Yeonpyong incident, in the waters off all three coasts of the Korean Peninsula. The military exercise, which included coastal defense units from the army, focused on live-fire maneuvers by patrol navy ships and high-speed vessels. Dr. Cha Du-hyeon at the Korea Institute for Defense Analysis interprets the resumption of the shooting drills on the heels of the South Korea-U.S. joint military drill as a strong message indicating that the South Korean military continues its regular military exercises at a high-level alert posture in the face of North Korea’s latest provocation.

The maritime shooting drills were scheduled to take place after the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise. The shootings are not directed at North Korea, of course, but in a southwestern direction. In other words, the South Korean military’s typical ammunition drills are not aimed at threatening North Korea, but are designed to enhance the nation’s defense posture. While South and North Korea are in military confrontation, especially following North Korea’s recent artillery attack on the South Korean island, it’s all the more necessary for South Korea to brace for any possible attack from the North. Military drills are one of the key self-defense measures. Without regular drills, the military cannot respond to outside threats properly. In this sense, South Korea justly exercises its right of self-defense.

Meanwhile, former South Korean Defense Minister Kim Tae-young resigned to take responsibility for the Yeonpyeong incident. President Lee Myung-bak accepted his resignation on November 25 and appointed Kim Kwan-jin, a former head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, as the new defense chief. The presidential office of Cheong Wa Dae hails the new minister as an experienced, reform-minded soldier with strong drive. After President Lee said the five northwestern islands in the West Sea must be equipped with the world’s best weapons systems, the Defense Ministry submitted a proposal for an increase of 263.6 billion won in next year’s defense budget to fortify the five front-line islands. The ministry has also deployed high-tech weapons, including multiple rocket launchers, on Yeonpyeong Island to strengthen its military capacity. South Korea needs to respond to any security crisis, of course, but some point out the need for a balance when it comes to the military’s overall operations.

We can’t be sure that North Korea won’t commit an act of aggression again in the West Sea area, including Yeonpyeong Island, and South Korea has every reason to boost its military readiness. If the military concentrates too much on a particular region, however, other regions may be neglected and subsequently exposed to risks. The military should bear this in mind. Also, some are concerned that South Korea’s military preparations may provoke North Korea and increase tension. But North Korea has tended to launch surprise attacks on South Korea when the South is not prepared for an emergency or when tension is somewhat eased. So, I think such fears are groundless.

South Korea is also moving to revise the rules of engagement, which were established by the U.N. Command in 1953 in accordance with the Korean War Armistice. The rules specify phased steps to be taken in different situations, with a focus placed on preventing an accidental gunfight between the two Koreas from escalating into a full-scale war. Therefore, the rules of engagement can be rather passive, and the government is considering devising a new set of rules to better respond to provocations from North Korea. Here again, is Dr. Cha.

The basic principle of the rules of engagement will not change entirely, even if some revisions are made. But the government is examining more stern measures to punish the attacker until it completely gives up its will for provocation, rather than automatically applying the principle of proportionality. Given the importance of hitting back at the enemy more swiftly, field commanders of each military unit could be given more leeway to respond quickly in an emergency, going beyond their rights guaranteed by the existing rules of engagement. Also, the government may revise the rule that requires troops to respond to an attack with the same kind of weapons as the enemy. In the case of the Yeonpyeong Island attack, North Korea bombarded both the village and a military base, which caused civilian casualties. Officials are discussing ways to allow troops to respond more forcefully in similar instances and to differentiate their response to military versus civilian attacks.

The government has been busy devising military countermeasures, including the South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise on the West Sea and the strengthening of firepower on Yeonpyeong Island. Experts stress that the government needs to come up with a long-term master plan governing the appropriate military size, commanding structure and supplementary forces. Dr. Cha continues to explain.

North Korea is showing no signs of apologizing for its provocation or a promise to prevent a recurrence of a similar mishap. If South Korea softens its attitude in this situation, the North may misunderstand that the South is not capable of responding to attacks. In the short term, it’s necessary for South Korea to augment its military forces to address the existing threat from North Korea in a more effective and reliable manner. I imagine military reforms will take this into consideration. Only after the current situation is settled and tension is eased, can Seoul consider engaging in dialogue with North Korea and formulate a mid- and long-term plan to build up military strength.

To ensure security and allay public fears of additional provocations from North Korea, the government and the military should establish a well-thought-out, long-term security policy.



[Interview] Support Foundation for N. Korean New Settlers Launched A support foundation for North Korean defectors was launched on November 22 at the 63 Building in Yeouido, Seoul, with 300 North Korean refugees, political figures and officials from the government and civic groups. Kim Il-joo, the first chairman of the “Foundation to Support Residents Defecting from North Korea,” stressed that the successful resettlement of North Korean newcomers in South Korean society would be a shortcut to the future reunification of Korea. The government has improved many support programs, while the Red Cross, religious and civic groups have made their own efforts to help the defectors adjust to a new South Korean environment in a stable way. In an effort to answer a rising call for more systematic support, the government revised a law in September to encourage the efficient execution of private-level support. Here’s Kim Jeong-su, head of the Research and Support Center at the foundation, to explain.

Promulgated on September 27, the revised law calls for the creation of a support center for North Korean refugees and the establishment of a school for teenage North Korean defectors who have a difficult time adjusting to ordinary schools in South Korea. The envisioned school will allow defector students to prepare to enter ordinary schools for up to one year. Also, those with lower academic abilities can supplement their studies there. The law also requires strengthening employment support for defectors. To this end, public organizations will expand the special appointment of defectors, and organizations and the government will share job information.

With the purpose of providing more comprehensive support for the ever-increasing number of North Korean defectors, the government decided to disband the “Aid Association for North Korean Defectors” and to expand its services by setting up a new foundation. Let’s hear again from Mr. Kim.

The number of North Korean defectors entering South Korea has surpassed 20-thousand. The milestone of 20-thousand North Korean refugees carries significance in that these newcomers established their identity as South Korean citizens. The number could comprise a small county in South Korea. The nation has an obligation to embrace the newcomers tenderly, and the new foundation will make efforts to fulfill this goal as a harbinger of inter-Korean unity in a post-unification era. This is what the foundation is working toward.

The foundation will hire more personnel and draw up plans by year’s end and start carrying out various support programs from January 1 of next year. With increased government support, the foundation will reorganize via a new Planning and Management Headquarters, a Business Operation Headquarters and a Research and Support Center. It will also increase the number of employees from the current 10 to 60. The newly installed Research and Support Center, among others, deserves attention.

The top priority of the Research and Support Center is to examine the actual condition of North Korean defectors, such as their financial status, their relationships with neighbors and their identity as South Korean citizens. Secondly, the center is to study ways to help them acclimate to South Korean society quickly and stably. For example, it could show the defectors examples of successful resettlements to encourage them to renew their will to achieve something here in South Korea. Also, the center is to focus on developing efficient aid policies.

In addition, the foundation will help North Korean expatriates get jobs and achieve economic independence. The unemployment rate of North Korean defectors in South Korea exceeds 13 percent, with many of them earning only the bare minimum cost of living. The foundation will focus on remedying this situation. Let’s listen again to Mr. Kim.

We’re considering placing more emphasis on stabilizing the livelihood of newcomers from the North. To provide them with practical benefits, we’ll hold more job fairs and offer them more employment opportunities. What’s also important is fostering and supporting social enterprises to encourage them to hire other Northern people. Some North Koreans show interest in farming. We’ll explore good examples of farming and hold promotional activities to help the defectors learn more about the profession.

Here’s hoping the foundation will create a reliable bridge linking North Korean defectors to South Korean society, and serve as an impetus for Korean reunification.