Text Fw: S. Korea forms task force for national security reform

Yonhap News

2010/05/09 15:55 KST
(2nd LD) S. Korea forms task force for national security reform
By Lee Chi-dong

SEOUL, May 9 (Yonhap) -- South Korea launched a 15-member presidential team on Sunday tasked with revamping the national security system, whose loopholes became apparent in the handling of the aftermath of a warship sinking in March.

The ad hoc commission will be led by Lee Sang-woo, a former professor who now chairs a defense reform committee, the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, announced.

It also said President Lee Myung-bak appointed Lee Hee-won, a retired Army general, as his new special adviser for national security, a minister-level post.

In an unprecedented meeting with top military commanders last week, Lee said he would create the new organization and position to improve the country's national security system, which came under scrutiny after the 1,200-ton patrol ship, the Cheonan, sank on March 26 near the western sea border with North Korea.

Investigators suspect North Korea's involvement in the disaster that left 46 sailors dead and are analyzing evidence gathered from the site of the sinking. The South's military, on the other hand, was heavily bashed for reporting the incident belatedly to the defense minister and top commanders and failing to mobilize rescue operations quickly.

"The Commission for National Security Review is composed of five civilians and 10 others with military backgrounds," Kim Sung-hwan, senior secretary for foreign affairs and national security, told reporters. "It is expected to be operate for about two or three months."

The president will preside over its first meeting, the date of which has yet to be set, he said.

The team will assess external threats, review South Korea's defense posture and intelligence-collecting capabilities, craft reform measures, examine the South Korea-U.S. alliance, and work to enhance public awareness of national security, Kim added.

On the role of the new special adviser, Kim said he will give advice on military affairs and also oversee the national crisis management center at Cheong Wa Dae.

"The center will be in charge of the early handling of a crisis, and my office will deal with follow-up measures," Kim said.

R. Adm. Kim Jin-hyung was picked to take charge of daily affairs at the center, whose role and authority will also be enlarged, he said.

Lee Hee-won served as deputy chief of the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) from 2005-2006. He spent most of his military career in the operation field before his retirement in 2006.

Lee will directly report to the president in case of an emergency. He is also a member of the newly-formed commission. Other members include Hyun Hong-choo, former ambassador to Washington, Lee Sung-chool, ex-deputy commander of the CFC, and Park Jung-sung, who was commander of the Second Fleet when it won a bloody clash against North Korea's navy in 1999.

lcd@yna.co.kr