South Korea's Lee Backs Stronger Defence as US Drills Continue

South Korean President Lee Jae Myung has called for stronger South Korea defence capabilities while saying the country’s annual military and civil-defence exercises with the United States are not intended to provoke North Korea.

His comments came as South Korean and U.S. forces began their latest joint exercises amid uncertainty over the future scale of the drills.

Lee’s comments also come after U.S. President Donald Trump directed the Pentagon to reduce the scale of US-South Korea military exercises. The decision has raised concerns in Seoul about military preparedness and the future of the two countries’ security cooperation. Lee said South Korea should be better prepared to defend itself while continuing to work closely with Washington.

• South Korea's Lee calls for stronger defence as US military drills continue
• Lee backs stronger South Korean military capabilities amid US drill changes
• South Korea balances defence readiness with US alliance and North Korea talks

Lee Calls for Stronger South Korean Defence

Speaking at a National Security Council meeting, Lee said South Korea needs to strengthen its own military capabilities as the security situation on the Korean Peninsula changes. He also supported efforts to speed up the country’s nuclear-powered submarine programme and improve the ability of military officers to respond to different types of threats.

Lee has increasingly focused on giving South Korea a bigger role in its own defence policy. He has also supported the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea. The transfer would give Seoul greater responsibility for commanding its forces in the event of a conflict. However, the timing depends on South Korea meeting several military readiness requirements.

Lee said stronger South Korean defence capabilities would not weaken its US-South Korea alliance. Instead, he argued that a country with greater ability to defend itself would be a stronger partner for Washington. His approach reflects an attempt to maintain the U.S.-South Korea security alliance while also preparing the country to take greater responsibility for its own national security affairs.

US-South Korea Drills Continue

The annual Ulchi Freedom Shield exercises are being held as South Korea and the United States continue to assess potential threats from North Korea. The drills include training for situations involving cyberattacks, drones, communications disruptions and other modern security challenges. North Korea has long criticised the joint exercises, calling them preparations for an attack. Pyongyang has warned that such military drills could lead to a stronger military response from the North.

Lee, however, said the exercises should not be viewed as an attempt to provoke North Korea. He said civil-defence training is aimed at protecting South Korean citizens and preparing authorities to respond to emergencies. At the same time, Lee has continued to call for dialogue with Pyongyang. He has supported efforts to reduce tensions and establish a more stable system for managing inter-Korean relations.

This combination of stronger defence and diplomatic engagement has become a central part of Lee’s approach to Korean Peninsula security. The issue has gained importance following Washington’s decision to reduce the scale of its joint exercises with Seoul. Any reduction in training could create concerns about military preparedness, particularly as North Korea continues to develop its military capabilities.

For South Korea, the challenge is to maintain a strong defence relationship with the United States while becoming more capable of handling security threats independently. North Korea’s growing military cooperation with Russia has added to the uncertainty. Closer ties between Pyongyang and Moscow have raised concerns in Seoul and Washington about changes in the wider Northeast Asia security environment.

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Lee’s latest comments show that South Korea is trying to balance military preparedness with efforts to keep diplomatic channels open. As tensions remain, Seoul will have to manage its alliance with Washington, strengthen its own defence capabilities and continue looking for ways to reduce tensions with Pyongyang.