{"id":2196412,"date":"2022-05-31T18:15:01","date_gmt":"2022-05-31T09:15:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.nknews.org\/pro\/?p=2196412"},"modified":"2023-04-05T16:12:20","modified_gmt":"2023-04-05T07:12:20","slug":"south-koreas-nascent-aircraft-carrier-on-chopping-block-as-yoon-focuses-on-dprk","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/koreapro.org\/2022\/05\/south-koreas-nascent-aircraft-carrier-on-chopping-block-as-yoon-focuses-on-dprk\/","title":{"rendered":"South Korea\u2019s nascent aircraft carrier on chopping block as Yoon focuses on DPRK"},"content":{"rendered":"
One of Yoon Seok-yeol\u2019s first priorities as president will be determining South Korea\u2019s defense priorities at a time when the country faces significant challenges: North Korea continues to <\/span>test missiles<\/span><\/a> and is readying a potential <\/span>seventh nuclear test<\/span><\/a>, and U.S.-China competition is heating up in the region.<\/span><\/p>\n Indeed, Yoon kicked off his term in office with a<\/span> military briefing at midnight<\/span><\/a> on May 10. Setting those priorities will have far-reaching effects on defense acquisition, and the Moon administration\u2019s<\/span> controversial<\/span><\/a> light aircraft carrier program<\/span><\/a> \u2014 often referred to as CVX \u2014 will likely be an early victim of reoriented priorities. Even so, Moon\u2019s push to advance South Korea\u2019s missile capabilities provides important building blocks for Yoon to further develop in service of South Korea\u2019s defense.<\/span><\/p>\n The CVX program was a pet project of Moon Jae-in\u2019s administration and followed in the footsteps of the progressive Roh Moo-hyun administration. It was Roh Moo-hyun that first set Korea down the path toward a<\/span> blue water navy<\/span><\/a>, and it was Roh who approved the controversial<\/span> deep water port on Jeju island<\/span><\/a>.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The high priority given to naval assets among progressive administrations largely flows from their decision to not identify North Korea as the \u201cmain enemy.\u201d That tag has a profound effect on defense priorities. If North Korea is identified as the main enemy, then defense spending and acquisition programs should focus on the primary means to deter North Korea \u2014 land and air power. Removing that identifier allows progressive administration to direct funding into naval assets.<\/span><\/p>\n The Yoon administration is very likely to restore North Korea as the main enemy \u2014 South Korean media <\/span>report<\/span><\/a> the defense ministry has <\/span>already done so<\/span><\/a> in training materials for soldiers \u2014 shifting defense priorities back toward the army and air force. Yoon\u2019s nominee for defense minister, Lee Jong-sup, is a<\/span> retired Army lieutenant general<\/span><\/a>. He has already<\/span> spoken cooly<\/span><\/a> of the CVX program, fueling expectations that the program will be cut.<\/span><\/p>\n