South Korea accelerates military self-reliance over Trump’s ‘unpredictability’

South Korea accelerates military self-reliance over Trump’s ‘unpredictability’ President Lee Jae Myung wants South Korea to regain wartime operational control in his term even as he vows to maintain the US alliance US President Donald Trump’s abrupt move to scale back annual military drills with South Korea has handed President Lee Jae Myung a fresh impetus for greater defence self-reliance even as he seeks to maintain the long-standing alliance. Lee on Tuesday called for accelerated efforts to regain wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean forces from the United States and build nuclear-powered submarines, casting both as part of a broader push to boost South Korea’s ability to defend itself. His comments reflect Seoul’s growing concern over uncertainty in its alliance with the US under an “unpredictable” president, according to analysts. “Ironically, President Trump’s unpredictability allows President Lee to move with greater strategic flexibility,” said Chang Yong-seok, a senior researcher at the Institute for Peace and Unification Studies at Seoul National University. “South Korea, like many other friends, has been whipsawed by President Trump, and this is another example of his capriciousness. But this gives President Lee all the more justification to push a greater self-reliance agenda,” Chang said. At a government cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Lee highlighted South Korea’s growing defence capabilities. “South Korea is ranked among the world’s top five military powers and is considered one of the world’s top four defence industry powers,” Lee said.