President Moon Jae-in is calling on South Korea to beef up its self-defense capabilities during its inaugural civilian-military drills this week,... all while continuing to pursue peace in the region.<br />During a National Security Council meeting at an underground bunker at the Blue House on Wednesday,... part of the week-long Ulchi Taegeuk drills,... President Moon said there should be no crack in national security despite the ongoing peace drive.<br />"As long as we have the right to choose, the journey toward peace will not be stopped. No matter the difficulties, a new era on the Korean Peninsula will certainly open up."<br />The spokesperson for the top office added the president also ordered officials to ramp up defense capabilities and maintain full readiness to cope with a military crisis or national emergency that could arise at any time.<br />The president said, the ongoing drill will be useful to prep the nation for the transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.<br />
