Dec. 21 (Asia Today) -- South Korea's military is resetting next year's operational priorities from developing defense-centered North Korea strategy to easing military tensions, the Defense Ministry said Sunday, as it moves to support inter-Korean trust restoration through military talks and related measures.
The ministry said it issued a legislative notice for a revised ordinance governing the organization and functions of the ministry and its affiliated agencies. The revision includes reorganizing the North Korea Strategy Division into a revived North Korea Policy Division.
The North Korea Policy Division previously handled military-related North Korea policy work, including developing negotiation strategies for military talks and providing military support for inter-Korean exchange and cooperation, according to the ministry. The division became prominent during the Moon Jae-in administration and was involved in efforts surrounding the Sept. 19, 2018 inter-Korean military agreement. The ministry said former President Moon visited the ministry in December 2018 and praised staff of the division.
After the Yoon Suk-yeol administration took office and inter-Korean relations hardened into a more confrontational pattern, the unit was renamed the North Korea Strategy Division and its duties shifted towards sanctions-related strategy and policy coordination, the ministry said.
