ROK new defense chief named
SEOUL — Moon Jae-in, president of the Republic of Korea, on Thursday nominated the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as new defense minister.
Jeong Kyeong-doo, 58, a former fighter pilot, will take over the ministry as the government seeks to reduce tension and build trust with Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, and at a time of uncertainty over relations with main ally the United States.
Jeong, who is set to replace incumbent Song Young-moo, does not need parliament’s approval but must attend a hearing and answer legislators’ questions.
He would be the country’s first defense minister with an air force background in 24 years, media reported.
The US is seeking to press the DPRK to give up its nuclear and missile programs and as part of that effort, US President Donald Trump suspended military exercises with the ROK when he met Kim Jong-un, top leader of the DPRK, in a historic June summit in Singapore.
But with talks between Pyongyang and Washington stalled, there is speculation the ROK-US exercises, which the DPRK has long denounced as preparations to invade it, might get going again.
Trump said on Wednesday there was no reason to resume the exercises but US Defense Secretary James Mattis on Tuesday made remarks that were interpreted as hinting the drills could resume.
At the same time, Seoul is making efforts to improve ties between the two neighbors on the Korean Peninsula.
The ROK Defense Ministry has said it will reduce the number of guard posts and the amount of equipment along the Demilitarized Zone, on its border with the DPRK, under an agreement between Moon and Kim at an April summit.
The 1950-53 Korean War ended with an armistice, not a peace treaty, leaving the neighbors still technically at war.
Moon and Kim plan to meet for the third time this year in September. The denuclearization of the peninsula will be on the key dialogue agenda for the meeting, ROK’s presidential Blue House said on Thursday.
Meanwhile, Moon also named new ministers of labor and industry.
The new labor minister nominee, Lee Jae-kap, must deal with the worst job market since the 2008-10 financial crisis.
Unemployment is seen as having contributed to a plunge in Moon’s approval rating this month to its lowest level.