‘North Korea is the enemy’
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In the ‘2020 Defense White Paper’, the second publication of the Moon Jae-in administration, the Korean government described Japan as a’neighbor country’ instead of a’partner’. In addition, following the current government’s first defense white paper, “2018 Defense White Paper,” the expression “North Korea is the enemy” has been deleted.
According to a white paper published by the Ministry of Defense on the 2nd, Japan is the second next to China in terms of defense exchange and cooperation-related technologies with neighboring countries. Expressed.
This is downgraded compared to what Japan described in the ‘2018 Defense White Paper’ as “a partner that must cooperate together for world peace and prosperity.” An official from the Ministry of Defense explained, “We have gone through consultations with related ministries such as the Ministry of Foreign Affairs,” and said, “Since there was an uncomfortable relationship after the export regulation, Japan decided to be a neighboring country.” Earlier, the Japanese Ministry of Defense also deleted the expression’extensive cooperation’ with Korea in the ‘2020 Defense White Paper’ published in July last year.
Like the last white paper, this white paper stated, “Our military regards forces that threaten and infringe on the sovereignty, land, people, and property of the Republic of Korea as our enemies.” In the 2018 white paper, the phrase “the North Korean regime and the North Korean military are our enemies” was officially deleted, and the stance of defining “enemy” as a broader and more comprehensive concept was maintained. However, criticism has also been raised that the Korean government’s approach to North Korea is excessive, as North Korea has recently released tactical and strategic weapons through a feverish parade.
/ Reporter Kim Jung-wook [email protected]
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