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Blue House Office of National Security chief

By Park Hyun, Washington correspondent

Blue House Office of National Security chief Kim Kwan-jin said on Sept. 14 that South Korea would “act within the scope of what is possible” in joining allied international operations spearheaded by the US to repel the armed Sunni extremist group Islamic State (IS) in the Middle East.

“I believe it could be something within the scope of humanitarian aid,” Kim added.

His remarks came during a meeting with Washington correspondents for South Korean media outlets shortly after his arrival that day at Dulles International Airport near Washington, DC.

“South Korea has already provided US$1.2 million in various forms of aid, including support for Iraqi refugees,” Kim said. “We feel it may be possible to consider additional support.”

Regarding the possibility of transport or logistical support, Kim said, “We have not yet received any official requests.”

Kim also addressed the issue of another possible postponement in the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) from the US to South Korea.

“The OPCON transfer issue has been under continued discussion since last year, and we’ve set a target [for discussion] at this year’s ROK-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM),” he said, adding that he “expects the discussions will go smoothly.”

South Korea and the US currently plan to make the final decision on the transfer timeline at the SCM, which will take place in Washington in late September.

Kim dismissed speculation about South Korea potentially implementing a US Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) anti-ballistic missile system.

“We’ve never received official notification on the THAAD issue, nor has anything been discussed with the US,” he said.

Kim explained that his US visit was organized “because I sensed the need to establish a communication channel with my US counterpart, White House National Security Advisor Susan Rice, since taking office as Office of National Security Chief in the Blue House.”

“We plan to discuss issues like the North Korean nuclear program and the South Korea-US alliance, as well as other matters of shared interest in Northeast Asia and globally,” he added.

In addition to meeting Rice, Kim also plans to visit with senior officials at the US State and Defense Departments and former Combined Forces Command commanders before returning to South Korea on Sept. 17.

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