Seoul: The nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) pledged Wednesday to strengthen the military's readiness posture against what he called "complex" security threats. Air Force Gen. Jin Yong-sung made the remark as he attended a parliamentary confirmation hearing for the top military officer post.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Jin Yong-sung emphasized the importance of preparing a military readiness posture capable of addressing complex security threats. He committed to enhancing the country's three-axis deterrence system and pursuing military cooperation grounded in national interest and pragmatism.
Jin also highlighted his intention to fortify the military's operational capabilities within the framework of a strong South Korea-U.S. alliance, which is part of the ongoing efforts to transfer wartime operational control (OPCON) from Washington to Seoul. He mentioned that under the solid alliance between South Korea and the U.S., he aims to achieve core military capabilities and establish a combined, joint operational implementation system at an early stage, facilitating a systematic and stable wartime OPCON transfer.
Earlier this month, the government identified the OPCON transfer as a key policy objective for President Lee Jae Myung's five-year term, with plans to develop a road map for the "conditions-based" transition. South Korea initially handed over operational control of its troops to the U.S.-led U.N. Command during the Korean War and later to the Combined Forces Command when it was established in 1978. While South Korea regained peacetime OPCON in 1994, wartime OPCON remains under U.S. control.
If appointed, Jin stated he would also focus on rebuilding the military to ensure political neutrality and public trust, as well as advancing the military's capabilities through cutting-edge technology.