President Lee Jae-myung chaired a full meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) on Monday to review the situation as the Ulchi Freedom Shield (UFS) exercise commenced.
According to the Presidential Office spokesperson Kang Yu-jung, the Ulchi NSC meeting was attended by Prime Minister Kim Min-seok, Chief of Staff to the President Kang Hoon-sik, National Intelligence Service Director Lee Jong-seok, National Security Advisor Wi Seong-lac, along with the first, second, and third deputies of the National Security Office and relevant cabinet members.
President Lee emphasized that while peace without conflict is ideal, it must be prepared for worst-case scenarios. He urged that this exercise be conducted as a practical drill to protect the citizens and ensure national security during wartime.
He designed to safeguard the lives and safety of the citizens, further noting that it is not intended to provoke North Korea or escalate tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
Spokesperson Kang reported that the meeting assessed the nation’s total war readiness capabilities and reviewed procedures for transitioning various agencies to wartime operations.
Kang added that the President called for an objective evaluation of the Ulchi exercise results and the development of plans for future drills. She noted that he reiterated that the fundamental purpose of this training is to achieve peace on the Korean Peninsula and to protect the lives and safety of the citizens.