Command Issue Could Hurt Korea-US Ties

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.

taewon_ha@donga.com