[Editorial] Military Drills Swayed by N. Korea

The Defense Ministry announced yesterday that it will replace a major field exercise that was planned to be held simultaneously with the Ulchi Focus Lens (UFL), a joint Korea-U.S. exercise, with a “computer war game” that does not mobilize troops, instead of postponing it. The National Emergency Planning Commission also delayed the Chungmu Exercise that was to be carried out as part of the Ulchi Exercise during the UFL until October. The government suddenly changed the plans for the two military drills – a joint military exercise by Seoul and Washington and a contingency exercise by the administration - just a week before their scheduled dates. Although Cheong Wa Dae explained that such decisions were made in an attempt to create a friendly atmosphere necessary for the success of the inter-Korean summit, it has taken a wrong approach toward Pyongyang and national security.

The North criticized the UFL through its military`s representatives at Panmunjeom two days after the announcement of the inter-Korean summit was made. Meanwhile, Cheong Wa Dae, which announced that it would not rule out the possibility of postponing or downsizing, eventually curried favor with the communist regime. The "mental laxity” of soldiers will inevitably occur when the military plays a “computer war game” in place of annual maneuvers for the sake of President Roh Moo-hyun’s trip to Pyongyang whose term is only a little over five months left.

When the South suggested holding a working level contact over the inter-Korean summit on Monday, the North turned a deaf ear to its demands.

The North sent a telegraph message asking to make some changes in the South’s demands Monday morning only after the delays of the field drills were announced, according to government officials. The North appears to have beaten the South to the punch even before a working level contact was made.

“Altering the schedules of a joint ROK-U.S. military exercise that has taken place annually and customarily just because the North opposed to it is something that makes a sovereign state lose its face,” said Kim Moon-ki, the spokesman of the Korea Veterans Association. It is also important to note that if the South continues to make concessions, it will only help the North raise their voices. It’s hard to understand why the government that has added such a great burden on taxpayers’ shoulders for its immature attempt to enhance self-defense capabilities is not self-reliant when it comes to facing North Korea.

The UFL is a military exercise that was already informed to the North last month. If necessary, the government could have solved the problem by inviting a group of North Korean officials to monitor the drill. While looking at the government, which is being dragged by Pyongyang’s one-sided demands, it arouses us questions that whether our soldiers will be able to show their resolve to sacrifice themselves in the case of a war.