hankyoreh

South Korean President Moon Jae-in views a demonstration of a flight simulator at the Gyeryongdae Complex in South Chungcheong Province on Jan. 21. (Blue House photo pool)

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defense (MND) has announced that it will carry out the joint military exercises with the US scheduled for March and April of this year on a reduced scale, just as it did last year. But the MND added that the exercises would be conducted on a scale agreed upon by both sides in light of developments in the diplomatic situation, including the North Korea-US denuclearization talks. This suggests that changes on the Korean Peninsula could lead to further adjustments to the exercises.

“Our plan for this year’s joint military exercises with the US is to carry them out on an adjusted scale, along the same lines as last year,” South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo said while briefing President Moon Jae-in about the MND’s plans for 2020. The briefing, held on Tuesday at the Gyeryongdae Complex, in South Chungcheong Province, was attended by military leaders in the army, navy, and air force.

Jeong’s comments imply that a command post exercise called Dong Maeng (meaning “alliance”) will be held in March and April and that another command post exercise, along with an assessment of the South Korean military’s full operational capability, will be held in the second half of the year. Achieving full operational capability is a necessary stage in the US returning wartime operational control (OPCON) back to South Korea.

“For the time being, we’re proceeding steadily with preparations for the scheduled joint exercises,” a high-ranking MND official said, while adding, “In the event of progress on a diplomatic or governmental level, the exercises will be conducted within the scope agreed upon through deliberations between South Korea and the US.”

These remarks are taken to mean that the exercises could be further adjusted, given changes in affairs on the Korean Peninsula, such as the resumption of the North Korea-US denuclearization talks. “If there are adjustments or changes, due consideration will be given while carrying out [the exercises] on a scale that isn’t problematic for the joint readiness of South Korea and the US,” the official added.

This year, the MND intends to focus the entire military’s capabilities on the assessment of the full operational capability of the future joint command, which will be held toward the end of the year. The goal is to lay the groundwork for reaching the stage at which the actual OPCON handover can take place. Last year, the military passed its assessment for initial operational capability; after completing assessments for full operational capability this year and for full mission capability next year, some think it may be possible for the OPCON transfer to take place in 2022, the final year of Moon’s presidency.

As for what role the UN Command will play following the OPCON transfer, the MND intends to revise the strategy document delineating the relationship of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, US Forces Korea, and the UN Command in the first half of this year.

“While there’s talk about the UN Command being given a bigger role, both the Americans and South Koreans have some misunderstandings on this matter. Through adequate communication and deliberations, we plan to finish revising the strategy document in the first half of the year. We will ensure that the full operational capability assessment is based on the new strategy document,” a high-ranking MND official explained.

In his briefing, Jeong also said the MND will be trying to set up deliberations with North Korea about withdrawing DMZ guard posts and drafting the detailed plans for that withdrawal. The MND will be reviewing plans for a gradual withdrawal in each sector according to the principle of reciprocity. Meaningful progress in this area is likely to begin once the conditions are in place for improving inter-Korean relations.

The Ministry’s three key objectives for this year are as follows: building a formidable military now that the defense budget has surpassed 50 trillion won (US$42.96 billion), a first for South Korea; making the transition to “smart defense” by applying technology from the Fourth Industrial Revolution; and ensuring that barracks are safe, healthy, and people-centered.

“In order to establish a firm defensive posture, we will create defense capabilities that no one can look down on by augmenting our military force in a manner that suits the era of a 50 trillion won defense budget,” Jeong said.

By Yoo Kang-moon, senior staff writer

Please direct comments or questions to [english@hani.co.kr]