보도자료

[260414_개혁신당 보도자료] 미-이란 충돌 장기화와 호르무즈 해협: 한·미 전략적 대응 세미나 이준석 당대표 인사말씀 (Opening remarks)

◎ Chairman Lee Jun Seok 

"Hello to all my peers, Dr. Seymore and Professor Kanehara. Thank you for joining the critical policy session today.

We're currently standing at a crossroads. The ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the escalating crisis in the Strait of Hormuz are far more than a regional dispute; they are a global crisis and directly threaten our national survival.

This threatens not only our energy security but also the vital supply chains of titanium and bromine that are the lifeblood of Korean semiconductor and AI industries. As the United States requests military contributions from its allies, South Korea faces a profound strategic and domestic dilemma regarding the deployment of our armed forces.

However, I stand before you today to propose a pragmatic third way, what I call 'Iron Diplomacy'. Instead of deploying combat troops, which faces significant legal and domestic hurdles, South Korea can fulfill its alliance responsibilities by providing our world-class advanced defensive weapon systems.

The South Korean Cheongung-II M-SAM missiles recently deployed in the United Arab Emirates recorded a staggering 96% interception rate against a barrage of incoming missiles and drones. I think this can be an option for Korea also. The time for passive observation has passed, and through multilateral cooperation, South Korea must forge a proactive and strategic role within the Korea-US-Japan trilateral framework. I look forward to a profound and fruitful discussion today."