South Korean Defense Minister: ”Responding to North Korea with a two-track approach of 'easing tensions' and 'building trust' based on a strong deterrent force”

South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Kyu-baek said, "North Korea's increasingly sophisticated nuclear and missile threats pose a serious challenge to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and in the region, as well as to the global non-proliferation regime."
In his opening remarks at the 14th Seoul Security Dialogue (SDD) held at the Lotte Hotel in Seoul on the 9th, Defense Minister Ahn said, "We will strengthen our strategic deterrence and defense and response capabilities to an ironclad state."
He added, "South Korea will consistently pursue a two-track approach that combines military detente and confidence-building, based on a strong deterrent and preparedness posture."
Defense Minister Ahn emphasized, "We will keep the door open for dialogue by easing military tensions and modernizing risk management mechanisms," and "Our military will firmly support the government's peace initiative militarily."
He continued, "We will build peace through strength and sustainable peace through heartfelt dialogue," and "we will steadily take practical measures to break the vicious cycle of crisis and create opportunities for peace."
"Peace does not come by chance. Peace must be carefully designed, and commitments must be continually reaffirmed," Defense Minister Ahn said.
"We will reduce mutual distrust and find practical coordination mechanisms for risk management," he said. In particular, "Regarding the Korean Peninsula issue, we must stably manage the increasingly sophisticated nuclear and missile threats posed by North Korea."
"To that end, the Ministry of National Defense will do everything possible to ensure that military deterrence becomes a solid foundation for creating diplomatic opportunities," he said.
We will fulfill our responsibilities and mission," he said.