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Despite Threat from North, South Korea Must Take 'Wartime Operational Control' Back from U.S. (The Hankyoreh, South Korea)

 

"Wartime operational control is the authority to control the armed forces in time of emergency. It is symbolic of a nation's sovereignty. ... And if the U.S. refuses to return this exercise of sovereignty to us, we should demand it. It is humiliating to watch as we refuse to accept something - even when the Americans are offering it."

 

EDITORIAL

 

April 23, 2013

 

South Korea - The Hankyoreh – Original Article (English)

U.S. and South Korea Navy ships sail in formation during Foal Eagle 2013 military drills west of the Korean peninsula, Mar. 13. Would it be better for the U.S. to retain 'wartime operational control' of the South Korean military, or should the transfer scheduled for December go ahead?  

RUSSIA TODAY NEWS VIDEO: Korea arms buildup 'may spiral out of control', April 13, 00:05:23RealVideo

There are growing attempts to use North Korea's third nuclear test as a pretext for postponing the transfer of wartime operational control from the U.S. to South Korea, scheduled to occur in Dec. 2015. The context and arguments are nearly identical as those after the second nuclear test in 2009. Back then, calls for a delay led to a decision at a bilateral summit the following year to delay the transfer from April 2012 until Dec. 2015. Now, on the eve of President Park Geun-hye's first visit to the U.S. next month, it is happening again.

 

What is noteworthy this time around is that former Combined Forces Commander Burwell Bell, who pushed strongly for restoring wartime operational control to South Korea, has put his weight this time behind calls from the military and politicians for a postponement. Their argument is that it would be better for the U.S. to continue holding the reins to more effectively deter the North's nuclear ambitions.

 

Obviously, one cannot overemphasize the need for a strong deterrent against the North's nuclear threat. We must strengthen the alliance and organize means of detering recklessness on the part of North Korea. But the argument that restoring wartime operational control to South Korea would somehow weaken deterrence is a feeble one. This shows the shortsightedness of people who only think of what can be gained from a postponement - and not of what is lost.

 

Wartime operational control is the authority to control the armed forces in time of emergency. It is symbolic of a nation's sovereignty. When Japan invaded Korea in the late 16th century, China's Ming Dynasty army took over Korea's military on the pretext of helping it fight off the threat. The abuses Korea then suffered provide historical evidence of how important it is for a country to run its own military. Not only that, but the U.S. seeks to return operational control in a way that suits its need for a sophisticated overseas force. And if the U.S. refuses to return this exercise of sovereignty to us, we should demand it. It is humiliating to watch as we refuse to accept something - even when the Americans are offering it.

 

We should also pay heed to those who advise that the transfer will actually increase deterrence against North Korea. With the U.S. now holding control, we have limited means of independently responding in the event of another incident like the 2010 shelling of Yeonpyeong Island. All operations depend on the say-so of U.S. forces - not ours.

Posted By Worldmeets.US

 

The government shouldn't be swayed by calls to postpone the transfer. It is a matter of our very military sovereignty, and has a considerable impact on our deterrent against North Korea. Following the reasoning of those in favor of a delay, as long as North Korea has nuclear capabilities, we would never be able to regain operational control - and that is unacceptable. People must realize that no matter how strong an alliance with our country may be, it cannot intimidate an adversary when we aren't prepared to command our own military.

 

 

SEE ALSO ON THIS:  

People's Daily, China: Beijing's Message to America, Japan, and the Koreas  

SCMP, Hong Kong: North Korea Carries Out Parachute Drills on Chinese Border  

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Korean People will Never Give in to America's 'Aid Blackmail'  

Huanqiu, China: For Peace, U.S. Must Pledge Not to Topple Pyongyang Regime  

The Hankyoreh, South Korea: Deal for 'Early' U.S. Intervention After North Korea Provocation  

Le Temps, Switzerland: B-2s to Korea: Russia and China 'Are Not Wrong' to Be Worried      

Global Times, China: China Cannot Afford North Korean Fukushima    

FAZ, Germany: Does New Development Minister Explain North Korea's Verbal Barrage?    

Polityka, Poland: Brought to a Rapid Boil: North Korea Threatens Attack on America    

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: 'Master and Stooge' Conspire to Trigger Second Korean War    

Korea Central News, North Korea: Armistice is 'Dead Letter'; 'Provocateurs' Will Face Retaliatory Strike  

Daily North Korea, South Korea: Average North Korean 'Shocked' at Rodman's Appearance  

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Kim Jong-un Praises Dennis Rodman and American Delegation  

Huanqui, China: Beijing Must Punish Pyongyang, But Never Join Anti-North Alliance  

Daily North Korea, South Korea: U.S., South Korea to Incite Unrest in North Korea
Korea Central News, North Korea: Security Council Must Apologize for Being 'U.S. Marionette'
Korea Times, South Korea: Seoul Condemns North Korea's Nuclear Test
The Hankyoreh, South Korea: North Korea May be Developing Hydrogen Bomb
Korea Herald, South Korea: North Korea Device 'Weaker than Feared'
Korea Herald, South Korea: Seoul Citizens Express Concern Over Nuke Test
Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: ‘Unimaginable Punishment’ if Satellite Intercepted
Korea Central News, North Korea: Obama ‘Misperceives Peaceful’ Satellite Launch
China Daily, China: Obama Makes North Korean Rocket Launch More Likely
Mainichi Shimbun, Japan: Nuclear-Armed Japan is Not Out of the Question
The Hankyoreh, South Korea: Nuclear Summit Must Resist ‘Nuclear Power Mafia’
Yonhap, South Korea: Obama Warns North Launch will Bring Greater Isolation
News, Switzerland: Obama's Best Option for Koreas: Send Envoy to Pyongyang
News, Switzerland: Pyongyang Makes a Play for Direct Ties with Americans
Opera Mundi, Brazil: Can America Secure a North Korean Nuclear 'Reversal'?
Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: Imperialist Sanctions 'Should Be Smashed'
Moskovskiye Novosti, Russia: 'Russia's Place in a Changing World,' By Vladimir Putin

Rodong Sinmun, North Korea: 'U.S. Warmongers' Foolish to Hope to Change North

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: Why the Kim Jong-un Regime is 'Doomed'

Jong-A Ilbo, S. Korea: U.S.,China Must Resist Urge to Meddle after Kim's Death

Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung, Germany: Secret of America's Counterfeit 'Supernotes'

Korean Central, North Korea: The U.S. 'Should Be Cursed' By All Koreans

Korean Central, North Korea: 'Japanese Militarists' Prepare for Reinvasion of Korea

 

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Posted By Worldmeets.US Apr. 22, 2013, 6:53am