◀ anchor ▶
The security gap is also controversial.
President-elect Yoon emphasized that even if the Blue House office is moved to the position of the Ministry of National Defense, there will be no problems with the Blue House’s crisis response or military readiness posture.
But the story of military experts was different.
Eleven former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also expressed concerns regarding the transition committee.
Next is reporter Jeong Dong-hoon.
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The Crisis Management Center, called the Blue House bunker, collects all situations that threaten the safety of the people, from military trends in North Korea to terrorism and disasters, through a dedicated communication network with relevant ministries and reports to the president 24 hours a day.
President-elect Yoon emphasized that if the Blue House bunker is moved to a bunker under the Ministry of National Defense or the Joint Chiefs of Staff, there will be no problem in responding to the crisis.
[윤석열/대통령 당선인]
“There is an underground bunker here (Ministry of Defense), and there is also an underground bunker here (JCS).
However, military experts were concerned, saying, “They are not familiar with the national security system.”
First of all, the Joint Chiefs of Staff has a completely different function from the Blue House situation room.
Here, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff directs the operations of the entire army during peacetime operations as well as in actual combat situations such as the Battle of Yeonpyeong.
You have to build a completely different system.
Also, it is practically impossible to expand the space because of the thick walls installed in case of enemy attacks.
Experts are of the opinion that it will take at least a year to build a new communication network dedicated to the Blue House even in the underground bunker of the Ministry of National Defense.
It is also necessary to build new major military communication networks, such as the national defense computer network, wartime communication network, and the ROK-US hotline.
[김종대/군사전문가]
“To speak irresponsible words like this without understanding at all regarding the management of the military’s military situation is a part of revealing a lack of understanding regarding national crisis management and military expertise.”
The transition committee also said that it will not take security measures such as relocating the Patriot battery or resetting the no-fly zone to defend the Blue House.
In case of emergency, the three national security control towers, which are key targets, are more likely to be attacked together, but the level of defense is rather weakened.
[김병주 의원/국회 국방위원회]
“There (Yongsan) will be a key target. All missiles will inevitably become key targets, so they are very vulnerable, and overlook these things…”
Earlier, 11 former chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff also expressed de facto opposition.
In a statement delivered to the transition committee, they pointed out that the Blue House’s relocation to the Ministry of National Defense “is the best target to strike the enemy at the same time as our government and military command.”
“At a time of security weakness in which North Korea launches missiles one following another and shows a trend to prepare for a nuclear test, the chain movement of the national command may cause havoc in the military’s rapid response, leading to a security vacuum,” he warned.
In the midst of this, North Korea fired four multiple rocket launchers this morning in the area of South Pyongan Province.
It seems that they have launched an armed protest targeting the South Korea-US joint exercise scheduled for next month, and the government immediately held a meeting with the NSC vice ministers to discuss countermeasures.
This is Dong-Hoon Jeong from MBC News.
Video coverage: Dong-won Wi·Seung-hyeon Jeon/Video editing: Da-hye Yoo
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