US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby John is giving a press briefing at the Pentagon Building in Washington on the 28th. Washington = AP Yonhap News
“I recognize that there is no more important place than the Korean Peninsula.”
At a briefing on the 28th (local time), US Defense Department spokesman John Kirby was so fortunate to ask what the Donald Trump administration would do with the reduced ROK-US joint exercises for negotiations with North Korea. He then mentioned’Ready to Fight Tonight’, the motto for the readiness of the ROK-US alliance, which means’I’m ready to fight right now’. “I fully understand the need to be prepared and will be committed to it.” In addition, he repeatedly emphasized that he is aware of North Korea’s attempts to increase its military power and that “we will continue to be sure of the preparedness we need on the Korean Peninsula.”
On that day, the U.S. Department of Defense also disclosed its position on the transition of the Korean Peninsula Wartime Warfare Control (OOP) after the inauguration of the Joe Biden administration, which was also a prudent attitude. “The promise of a certain point in time puts our troops and personnel at risk,” he said. “Operation rights will be converted when mutually agreed conditions are fully met.” “Condition-based OPCON conversion is not only mutually agreed upon by the US and Korea, but is also necessary for regional security.” Defense Minister Seo-wook said at a press conference on the 27th, saying, “I think there must be progress made for the transition of opposition rights during my tenure,” and it has been a day since it seemed to suggest the timing of the transition.
Of course, the position announced by the US Department of Defense is either in principle or a reaffirmation of the existing situation. Not specific or new at face value. Nevertheless, it is unsurprising in that it clarified the initial principles of the Biden administration. This is because if you predict how the USFK will operate in the future, the meaning will be quite different from that of the Donald Trump administration.
For now, it is unclear whether the Korean-US training will continue in a reduced state as it is now. Progress in denuclearization toward North Korea was a common goal and top priority of President Moon Jae-in and President Trump. Coordination of training reductions between Korea and the United States served as a lever for dialogue between North and South America. It is true that the operation of US forces in Korea was mainly done with North Korea in mind.
The Korean position remains the same. At the New Year’s conference, President Moon presented a message saying that US-Korea training could be discussed with North Korea. Secretary Seo also said, “If tension is eased and trust is established between the two Koreas, any issues can be discussed through talks.” The problem is America. As declared by the Biden Foreign Affairs and Security Team, the Trump administration’s approach to North Korea is subject to a full review by the Biden administration.
The issue of opposition conversion is a different position. The Korean government is in a hurry with the goal of May next year when President Moon’s term ends. “It means that we will achieve results within the framework of opposition based on conditions”, but many analyzes say that the recent comments of Secretary Seo have revealed impatience.
As far as opposition is concerned, experts predict the possibility that the Biden government will come out more tightly. Given the relatively strong tendency to regard the Korean peninsula as a strategic bridgehead for public control, and the increasingly intensifying conflict between the United States and China, Washington has a strong trend that it is advantageous not to hand over opposition rights to Korea, which may lean toward China. There is. If this is really deceitful, the conditions for the OPCON conversion are just an excuse.
It is not without variables. It is likely that the United States, after reviewing the overall strategy for the operation of US troops stationed in the world, would conclude that it would be better to adjust the size of US forces in Korea or to secure flexibility. Park Won-gon, a professor at Handong University, pointed out that “if the ROK-US alliance system becomes loose as a result, an unwelcome situation may arise even if the opposition rights are returned.”
Kwon Kyung-seong reporter [email protected]
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