S Korea defense ministry revives N Korea policy unit as priorities shift to restoring trust
· UPIDec. 21 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's military is resetting next year's operational priorities from developing defense-centered North Korea strategy to easing military tensions, the Defense Ministry said Sunday, as it moves to support inter-Korean trust restoration through military talks and related measures.
The ministry said it issued a legislative notice for a revised ordinance governing the organization and functions of the ministry and its affiliated agencies. The revision includes reorganizing the North Korea Strategy Division into a revived North Korea Policy Division.
The North Korea Policy Division previously handled military-related North Korea policy work, including developing negotiation strategies for military talks and providing military support for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, according to the ministry. The division became prominent during the Moon Jae-in administration and was involved in efforts surrounding the Sept. 19, 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. The ministry said former President Moon visited the ministry in December 2018 and praised staff of the division.
After the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office and inter-Korean relations hardened into a more confrontational pattern, the unit was renamed the North Korea Strategy Division and its duties shifted towards sanctions-related strategy and policy coordination, the ministry said.
The Defense Ministry said the revived North Korea Policy Division will align with the current administration's reconciliation policy toward North Korea. Its tasks will include developing negotiation strategies and responses related to military talks, managing those talks and supporting South Korea's delegation.
In a recent briefing to the president, the ministry said it plans measures to ease military tensions and prevent accidental clashes, starting in the air domain, then ground and then sea, with the goal of fully restoring the Sept. 19 military agreement. The ministry said the unit name change reflects an emphasis on trust restoration between the two Koreas, including in the military sphere, and is intended to strengthen the basis for implementing North Korea policy work such as inter-Korean military talks and confidence-building measures.
Separately, the ministry said the revision would civilianize the post of the defense minister's "military adviser," a role previously held by active-duty generals. The position would be renamed "defense adviser" and filled by a senior civilian official, the ministry said.
The amendment would also abolish the ministry's Resource Management Office and create a new vice minister-level organization overseeing AI-related functions including combat power, information systems and logistics, the ministry said. The unit would serve as a control tower for defense AI policy.
A ministry official said the changes are part of strengthening civilian control and clarifying the advisory role as one dedicated to assisting the defense minister.
- Reported by Asia Today; translated by UPI
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