VIDEO SHOWS: SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT, LEE JAE MYUNG, HOLDING CABINET MEETING / SOUNDBITES FROM LEE

STORY: South Korean President Lee Jae Myung called on Tuesday (August 18) for stronger independent defence capabilities, while saying annual civil-defence exercises coinciding with joint U.S.-South Korea military drills were defensive and not intended to threaten North Korea. The remarks in a cabinet meeting came after U.S. President Donald Trump instructed the Pentagon to "substantially reduce" the joint military exercises with South Korea, and said North Korean leader Kim Jong Un had responded to his outreach. Lee said Seoul should proceed without disruption with the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the United States during his term, in line with the government's existing plan. He also called for faster progress on South Korea's nuclear-powered submarine programme and for developing officers capable of integrated operations for future conflicts, as distinctions between battlefields become less clear. At a National Security Council meeting on Tuesday, Lee said the civil-defence exercises held alongside major U.S.-South Korea military drills were defensive in character, had no intention of using the exercises to attack North Korea or raise tensions on the Korean Peninsula. (Production: Hyunyoung Yi, Dagyun Lee, Writing: Joyce Lee)

DESCRIPCIÓN DE IMÁGENES

SHOWS: SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA (AUGUST 18, 2026) (KTV – Access all)

1. SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT, LEE JAE MYUNG, SEATED WITH OFFICIALS

2. LEE BANGING GAVEL TO BEGIN CABINET MEETING

3. OFFICIALS TAKING NOTES

4. (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT, LEE JAE MYUNG, SAYING:

“Through this year’s Ulchi exercise, we need to thoroughly assess and strengthen our defence posture and further enhance the country’s overall capacity to respond to crises. A strong national defence is the most fundamental foundation for protecting the lives of our people and building an irreplaceable Republic of Korea.”

5. CABINET MEETING IN PROGRESS

6. (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT, LEE JAE MYUNG, SAYING:

“To further strengthen our defence capabilities, it is essential to comprehensively enhance our operational capabilities and establish a system for training the personnel needed to achieve this. To this end, we must proceed without disruption, in line with the government’s original plan, to complete the transfer of wartime operational control within my term in office.”

7. OFFICIALS LISTENING, TAKING NOTES

8. (SOUNDBITE) (Korean) SOUTH KOREAN PRESIDENT, LEE JAE MYUNG, SAYING:

“A strong South Korea-U.S. alliance and strengthening our independent defence capabilities are mutually reinforcing. A strong alliance makes the foundation of security stronger, and strengthening our own capabilities increases our value and necessity as an ally. I ask that we also accelerate efforts to advance the nuclear-powered submarine project, which will symbolise a more constructive and stronger future for the South Korea-U.S. alliance.”

9. OFFICIALS LISTENING, TAKING NOTES

10. VARIOUS OF CABINET MEETING IN PROGRESS