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54m ago

South Korea JCS Nominee Urges Normal Allied Drills, Vows Stronger Deterrence

The hearing spotlights a deterrence-first plan centered on readiness, alliance upgrades, conditions-based OPCON transfer.

The nominee for the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Air Force Lt. Gen. Jin Yong-sung, responds to questions from the press on his way to his office at the defense ministry compound in Seoul ahead of a parliamentary confirmation hearing, in this Sept. 4, 2025, file photo. (Yonhap)
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Overview

  • At his National Assembly hearing on Sept. 24, Air Force Gen. Jin Yong-sung pledged to bolster the three-axis deterrence system to counter North Korea's evolving threats.
  • He said combined South Korea–U.S. exercises should proceed normally to preserve readiness after some Ulchi Freedom Shield field training was pushed back this year to ease tensions with Pyongyang.
  • Jin committed to developing core capabilities and a combined, joint operational implementation system to enable a systemic and stable transfer of wartime operational control to Seoul.
  • He assessed that North Korea has not yet secured reliable ICBM warhead reentry technology but remains ready to conduct a nuclear test at Kim Jong-un's decision.
  • If confirmed, he vowed to restore strict political neutrality, rebuild public trust in the military, and advance capabilities through cutting-edge technology.