A ROK Air Force general will now being taking over as the ROK Defense Minister. This is the first time a ROK Air Force veteran will be defense minister in 24 years. I wonder if this pick is to counterbalance the influence of the ROK Army that may not be as supportive of removing South Korean defenses along the DMZ as President Moon may like?:
General Jeong Kyeong-doo
South Korean President Moon Jae-in on Thursday nominated the head of the Joint Chiefs of Staff as defense minister.
Jeong Kyeong-doo, 58, a former fighter pilot, would take over the ministry as the government seeks to reduce tension and build trust with North Korea, and at a time of uncertainty over relations with main ally the United States.
Jeong, who is set to replace incumbent Song Young-moo, does not need parliament’s approval but must attend a hearing and answer legislators’ questions.
He would be South Korea’s first defense minister with an air force background in 24 years, media reported. [Reuters]
What I find amazing is the DEFMIN gets sacked on Thursday, but none of the major news outlets covers it on Friday’s front page (Korea Times, Joongang Ilbo, Yonhap). How can that be? Yonhap is reputed to be the conservative outlet of the group (my go-to), but even they were somehow coerced into burying the story.
The stated purpose of this cabinet reshuffling to further Moon’s “reforms”. We all know what that’s code for: NK appeasement. Bye bye THAAD.
Everything we’ve all grown to like about SK is slowly changing before our very eyes.
What I find amazing is the DEFMIN gets sacked on Thursday, but none of the major news outlets covers it on Friday’s front page (Korea Times, Joongang Ilbo, Yonhap). How can that be? Yonhap is reputed to be the conservative outlet of the group (my go-to), but even they were somehow coerced into burying the story.
The stated purpose of this cabinet reshuffling to further Moon’s “reforms”. We all know what that’s code for: NK appeasement. Bye bye THAAD.
Everything we’ve all grown to like about SK is slowly changing before our very eyes.