Abrams “2 additional ballistic missile defense elements deployed in Korea”

[아시아경제 양낙규 군사전문기자]Robert Abrams, commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces and the USFK commander, is drawing attention when he announced that he will add’two elements’ to defend against ballistic missiles on the Korean Peninsula this year.

According to the US Department of Defense’s’DOD News’ and the Voice of the United States broadcast on the 11th, commander Abrams said at a hearing of the House Military Committee on the 10th (local time), “One of them has already been deployed in Korea, and the other two will be deployed this year to dramatically improve our ballistic missile defense capabilities,” he said.

It was not revealed what the three abilities specifically meant. However, one thing that has been “already deployed” in context is presumed to mean THAAD (high-altitude missile defense system) temporarily deployed in Seongju, Gyeongsangbuk-do.

Commander Abrams added, “There are challenges in any alliance, and the fierce ROK-US alliance is no exception.” said. He added, “We are working with the ROK military to find a solution that both sides can agree on in order to be able to conduct training on the Korean Peninsula and maintain deterrence through it.”

The simulation-based combined command post training (21-1 CCPT) in the first half of the year is currently in progress, and’training restrictions’ have been indirectly discussed. Commander Abrams is reportedly dissatisfied with the combined exercises conducted by computer simulations.

However, in relation to this issue, the Ministry of Defense of Korea has repeatedly expressed its position that outdoor maneuvering training is distributed throughout the year.

Defense Ministry spokesman Bu Seung-chan stressed that “outdoor maneuvering training is distributed throughout the year and is being conducted in a balanced manner, not focusing on a specific period,” in the regular briefing on the same day.

Meanwhile, it is reported that while US Defense Minister Lloyd Austin is scheduled to visit Korea on the 17th, he is considering visiting the DMZ or the USFK command post during his visit to Korea. It is said that the specific schedule will be adjusted by the US advance team soon arriving in Korea.

Reporter Yang Nak-gyu [email protected]