[USFK Forums] Command Issue Could Hurt Korea-US Ties [Dong-A]

[C. Y. Lee]

Uploaded by C. Y. Lee on Thursday, January 26, 2006

Command Issue Could Hurt Korea-US Ties

THE DONG-A ILBO, THURSDAY, JANUARY 26, 2006 03:03

A report from the National Assembly’s Intelligence Committee (NAIC) said that a transfer of wartime command authority, currently under the control of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), would damage the combined defense system in place between Korea and the U.S.

The report, which was prepared by an outside institute at the request of the NAIC and made public on January 25, said that if Korea takes over wartime operational control authority after the USFK no longer plays a “tripwire” role after being redeployed south of Han River, the joint defense system between Korea and U.S., a Korean national defense asset, could be impaired.

The report noted, “The issue of transferring wartime operational control to Korea should not be approached from the hardware view of fostering Korea’s own military deterrence against North Korea,” and pointed out, “The Korean army should first improve its capacity to collect information, and other military and deterrence strategies.”

The aforementioned statement contrasts with President Roh Moo-hyun’s statement on January 25 that the discussion on transferring wartime operational control between the two countries should be concluded as soon as possible.

Three experts on foreign and security policy, including Sungshin Women’s University professor Kim Young-ho (47, International Politics), wrote the report titled, “Readjustment of USFK and Military and Security Order in Northeast Asia in the 21st Century” at the request of the NAIC last November.

Concerning the USFK’s strategic flexibility, the report also indicated, “Considering that accepting the USFK’s strategic flexibility is not in line with Korean opinion, it may be hard for Korea to agree to the USFK’s strategic flexibility plan. The issue must proceed with a national consensus behind it.”

The report suggested the two countries adopt a Korea-U.S. joint security alliance declaration that guarantees a long-term U.S. military presence in Korea in order to solve the strategic flexibility issue without harming the Korea-U.S. alliance.



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[Mr. Joe]

Translation; The South Korean Government would be nuts to NOT share responsibility of wartime operations at least equally with the US. That guarantees that the US will always defend the South, and also that they can continue to deal with the North and attribute any problems with unification on the fact that the US is here. Also, they benefit from our training support money and other money flowing into the economy. If the North starts yelling about any problem, the "blame" can always fall on the US. Standing up and being the lead player in wartime operations after 50+ years of depending on us is very scary and costly. Why mess with a good thing? That's how they see it.