Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul on Tuesday reiterated the need to integrate the Army, Navy and Air Force academies into a single institution, saying the reform is essential to preparing the military for future warfare, his office said. Kang made the remarks during a meeting with about 60 cadets from the three academies at the Korea Military Academy in northern Seoul to gather their views on the government's integration plan. During the meeting, Kang reiterated his support for establishing the tentatively named National Military Academy to better prepare future officers for evolving warfare and strengthen the country's long-term security. He added that the location of the proposed academy remained under consideration. An Army cadet argued that military education reform should be distinguished from past misconduct by some Army officers, citing President Lee Jae Myung's remarks in August linking Army academy graduates to past military coups and calling for swift integration to prevent another coup. Lee's remarks were widely interpreted as an allusion to military commanders' involvement in fo