One of Yoon Seok-yeol’s first priorities as president will be determining South Korea’s defense priorities at a time when the country faces significant challenges: North Korea continues to test missiles and is readying a potential seventh nuclear test, and U.S.-China competition is heating up in the region.

Indeed, Yoon kicked off his term in office with a military briefing at midnight on May 10. Setting those priorities will have far-reaching effects on defense acquisition, and the Moon administration’s controversial light aircraft carrier program — often referred to as CVX — will likely be an early victim of reoriented priorities. Even so, Moon’s push to advance South Korea’s missile capabilities provides important building blocks for Yoon to further develop in service of South Korea’s defense.