The Moon administration had previously said that they wanted to take over wartime operational control (OPCON) of military forces in the early 2020’s. Now the defense minister is saying they want to speed up the change over:
South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo, right, shakes hands with U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis.
Defense Minister Song Young-moo urged the military’s top brass on Tuesday to hasten preparations to take back Korea’s wartime operational control from the United States.
“The transfer is crucial to realize a reliable national defense suitable to Korea’s power and military capabilities,” Song said during a meeting at the Joint Chiefs of Staff, “and to defend the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula.”
He also urged the military to create a combined defense system with the United States under Korean leadership. The meeting was attended by about 200 senior officers of the Ministry of National Defense, Joint Chiefs of Staff, Army, Navy and Air Force as well as key operational units of the military.
The Joint Chiefs of Staff said it has focused on preparing a command structure that will be used after the transfer and that it has worked to improve the military’s capabilities so it can lead combined operations with the United States, which is one of the agreed-upon prerequisites for the transfer, in addition to a stable environment and an ability by Korea to counter North Korean nuclear and missile threats. To verify that these prerequisites have been met, one preliminary evaluation and three assessments are required, but the Ministry of National Defense presented a plan last week to speed up the transfer by skipping the preliminary evaluation, which is scheduled for 2019, and beginning immediately with the first assessment that same year.
Reporting to Prime Minister Lee Nak-yon on Friday, the ministry said it will update its plan and discuss it with the United States at the Security Consultative Meeting in October.
Song’s request echoes the sentiment of President Moon Jae-in, who has pushed for an early transfer since taking office in May. In his summit in July with U.S. President Donald Trump, Moon made an agreement with Trump to continue working to “expeditiously enable the conditions-based transfer of wartime operational control.” [Joong Ang Ilbo]
One of ROK President Moon’s top priorities after taking office was to push for the early transfer of OPCON to ROK forces. The US government has pretty much told him that if he wants it he can have it, but the US side of the command will be downgraded to a three-star general.
South Korea afraid the US will attack North Korea. They desperately want to take back the control of their troops from the US.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
He’s doing it because his Commie overlords said so.
Rascal1212
6 years ago
OPCON transition cannot happen until CFC is dissolved. No US soldier should be commanded by ROK forces. CFC goes away fires BDE (that sound is ROKs crying) and all US forces North of the Han immediately must move to CP Humpries regardless of the condition of the facilities US becomes supporting role.
ROK C4I is not ready. Leadership is weak. Last real ROK leader LTG CIB retired last year.
South Koreans want to remain alive. KJU will drive the train.
J6Junkie
6 years ago
@rascal1212
The military AND political leadership.
Flyingsword
6 years ago
Moon sell out the country, everyone knows there is no way the South Korean military can run a church social let alone control complex military operations. Moon trying to make sure the military collapses to facility the unification under the banner of Kim.
South Korea afraid the US will attack North Korea. They desperately want to take back the control of their troops from the US.
He’s doing it because his Commie overlords said so.
OPCON transition cannot happen until CFC is dissolved. No US soldier should be commanded by ROK forces. CFC goes away fires BDE (that sound is ROKs crying) and all US forces North of the Han immediately must move to CP Humpries regardless of the condition of the facilities US becomes supporting role.
ROK C4I is not ready. Leadership is weak. Last real ROK leader LTG CIB retired last year.
South Koreans want to remain alive. KJU will drive the train.
@rascal1212
The military AND political leadership.
Moon sell out the country, everyone knows there is no way the South Korean military can run a church social let alone control complex military operations. Moon trying to make sure the military collapses to facility the unification under the banner of Kim.