[NEWS FOCUS] Mixed reaction to troop control accord

The government tried to reassure reservations that the planned transfer of wartime operational control may weaken Seoul`s future defense capabilities amid mixed reaction to the new command arrangement agreed upon between Korea and the United States on Friday (Washington time).

Cheong Wa Dae praised the agreement as a key development toward an upgrade of the military alliance.

"The accord has paved the way for the 50-plus-year-old alliance`s entrance upon a new phase for another successful half century," President Roh Moo-hyun`s spokesman Yoon Seung-yong said in a statement on Saturday.

"The two nations` defense authorities will develop a stronger and more effective joint defense system through a complete and smooth transition of wartime operational control," he said.

The Roh administration, since its inauguration in 2003, has strenuously sought for the independent operational control of Korea`s armed forces and for the country to assume greater responsibility for its own defense.

Political parties Saturday showed mixed responses to the agreement, highlighting continuous discord within Korean society concerning the Korea-U.S. alliance, which has played a pivotal role in the nation`s security.

The ruling Uri Party and leftist opposition Democratic Labor Party welcomed the agreement as a cornerstone of the country`s sovereignty.

The main opposition Grand National Party and minor opposition Democratic Party regretted the accord, concerned that it will adversely effect security stability on the Korean Peninsula.

"The accord on the regaining of wartime control has set up a basic framework for Korea as a sovereign state. It was made on the basis of the maintenance of the Korea-U.S. alliance, thus, we assess the change will guarantee a more stable and upgraded security system," Rep. Choi Jae-sung, spokesman for the Uri Party, told reporters.

The progressive parties praised the U.S. acceptance of Seoul`s target year of 2012, saying South Korea has secured enough time to prepare for the assumption of an independent wartime operation.

However, the conservative parties criticized the accord for ignoring most citizens` hope of maintaining the status quo of the alliance structure, due to Pyongyang`s nuclear threats.

"It is disappointing that the agreement came a few days after the National Assembly`s defense committee passed a resolution that opposes the wartime control transition until the North Korean nuclear problem is resolved," GNP spokesman Yoo Ki-jun said.

Critics of the turnover are concerned that the "very inappropriate decision" would weaken Korea`s alliance with the United States, which stations 29,500 troops on the peninsula as a deterrent against North Korea`s 1.2-million-strong forces. They claim the dismantlement of CFC will lead to the gradual withdrawal of U.S. troops from South Korea.

The opponents said the CFC should be maintained to cope with a nuclear-armed North Korea until the communist country completely abandons its atomic programs.

Regarding such concerns over a security vacuum, the Defense Ministry reaffirmed that the operational control transfer will not undermine the U.S.`s commitment to the defense of South Korea in times of crisis.

"The transition will be made under the assured guarantee of such U.S. forces augmentation," said Cheon Je-kook, the assistant defense minister for policy.

To minimize possible security uncertainties during the transitional period, South Korean and U.S. militaries plan to draw up a concrete roadmap for the transfer, by July this year.

They will also test Seoul`s capability for an independent wartime operation in a joint certification exercise in March 2012, Cheon said.

There will be prior test drills from 2010 during the allies` joint Ulchi Focus Lens exercises every August, aimed at finding and removing potential problems in the command changes.

"The approach that we`re taking is an incremental approach, using our normal training cycles and developing this road map to determine those things that need to be in place for both sides to be comfortable with this transition," said Air Force Maj. David Smith, a Pentagon spokesman.

Seoul military sources said yesterday the government has been drawing up its own wartime operation plan to replace the existing Operation Plan 5027 which is supposed to be carried out jointly by the combined Korea-U.S. forces.

The current contingency plan focuses on counter-attacks in the event of North Korea aggression.

The Korean military is seeking to establish a new combat and operational command by the end of next year in the first major overhaul of the Joint Chiefs of Staff in 17 years.

Early this month, Defense Minister Kim Jang-soo said a new command responsible for wartime operation, command and control of troops is being considered in line with the new Korea-U.S. alliance structure.

South Korea also plans to beef up its intelligence-gathering ability, for which it has so far relied heavily upon U.S. forces.

In November, the Korean military concluded a contract with Boeing Co. to purchase four airborne early warning aircraft worth $1.59 billion between 2011 and 2012,

The Korean Air Force will deploy its first airborne early warning aircraft in 2011. The remaining three units will be delivered in 2012.

Korea currently depends on U.S. radar aircraft based in Okinawa, Japan for its aerial warning capability.

Since Pyongyang`s nuclear test in October, the South`s military has adjusted its defense priorities, stressing early acquisition of surveillance and reconnaissance equipment, precision strike weapons and a nuclear defense system, Seoul officials said.

Under a project codenamed SAM-X, the Defense Ministry is seeking to purchase 48 Patriot surface-to-air missiles from Germany, beginning in 2008.

South Korea has been developing early warning radars and a digital network command system called C4I (command, communication, control, computer and intelligence).

The C4I system will enable the military to respond quickly to threats through in-time communications between headquarters and combat units.

The Air Force will complete the radar development by 2012 in partnership with the Agency for Defense Development, a defense technology research institute affiliated to the Defense Ministry, and foreign experts, sources said.

(davidpooh@heraldm.com)



By Jin Dae-woong