President Lee Jae Myung speaks during the 9th Cabinet meeting held at Cheong Wa Dae on the 10th. Cheong Wa Dae Photo Press Corps

On the 10th, President Lee Jae Myung said, “Although we have expressed opposition to U.S. Forces Korea taking some air defense weapons out of the country to meet its own military needs, the sober reality is that we cannot fully prevail.”

At the Cabinet meeting he chaired at Cheong Wa Dae that day, President Lee said, “It seems there has recently been controversy over U.S. Forces Korea taking some batteries and air defense weapons out of the country.”

He said, “If you ask whether that would severely hinder our deterrence strategy against the North, I can tell you it absolutely would not.”

He added, “Given the level of our defense-spending burden, the advancement of the Republic of Korea’s defense industry, our standing in international military power rankings, and the high morale and sense of responsibility of our service members, there is no cause for concern about national defense itself.”