On the 23rd, President Yoon Suk-yeol spoke at the Central Integrated Defense Council meeting held at the Blue House, highlighting the increasingly complex and fluid state of international affairs. He stressed that self-defense is pivotal to integrated national security, asserting the necessity for South Korea to take full responsibility for its own defense and not to delegate this critical task to others. This meeting marks the first gathering of the Central Integrated Defense Council under the Yoon administration, which serves as a platform for collaboration among military, civil, and governmental sectors to review and improve national defense preparedness.

President Yoon further emphasized that ensuring the safety of the national community is a core responsibility, identifying security as the foremost concern among public safety, civil order, and economic welfare. He outlined the multifaceted nature of modern security threats, which encompass not just military dangers but also non-military challenges such as cyber attacks, terrorism, and environmental crises. Yoon called for an organic cooperation system where all defense components can operate seamlessly in the face of emergencies, underscoring that modern threats demand an exceptionally coordinated response.

In his remarks, President Yoon cited South Korea's military capability being ranked fifth worldwide, encouraging national self-confidence and preemptive preparations under adverse conditions. Attendees at the meeting included Prime Minister Kim Boo-kyum and various ministers, with discussions expected to cover issues such as North Korea's military forecasts, troop movements of U.S. Forces Korea related to Middle Eastern conflicts, and the energy security crisis, including responses to requests for troop deployment in the Strait of Hormuz.