▲ This photo shows Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back (5th from L, front row) posing with participants of a seminar on defense innovation held at the War Memorial of Korea in Seoul on Feb. 4, 2026, in this photo provided by his office. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

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Defense chief calls for military reform in the face of security, demographic challenges

SEOUL, Feb. 4 (Yonhap) -- Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday called for the military to push ahead with defense reform in the face of security and demographic challenges, including North Korea's nuclear threats and a fall in the country's population.

Ahn made the remarks during a seminar on defense innovation aimed at discussing ways to build a "strong, smart military" amid a rapidly changing security environment and a decline in the number of troops.

"Our (ability) to fight back against challenges facing us, including North Korea's advancement of nuclear threats, achieving the transfer of wartime command (from the United States), artificial intelligence technology and a declining population, will determine the destiny of South Korea in the future," Ahn said.

The defense chief also stressed achieving the transition of wartime operational control from Washington to Seoul within President Lee Jae Myung's term ending in 2030 to "take the lead" in shaping the destiny of the Korean Peninsula.

The ministry plans to further develop the basic plan for defense innovation scheduled for completion by 2026 based on Wednesday's seminar.

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