[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] The Concerns of USFK Accumulated Due to COVID-19

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yang Nak-gyu] The spread of the novel coronavirus infection (COVID-19) is causing growing concerns for the US Forces Korea (USFK). The US Department of Defense has prohibited the movement of USFK personnel, inevitably affecting the rotational deployment of US forces in Korea, while friction over defense cost-sharing payments has deepened emotional rifts with Korean workers.

According to the US Department of Defense website, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has banned travel for military personnel, Department of Defense civilians, and their families for 60 days to countries under the highest Level 3 travel alert. The CDC travel alerts are categorized into Level 1 'Watch,' Level 2 'Alert,' and Level 3 'Warning.' Countries under the Level 3 travel alert include China, Italy, Korea, and Iran.

This directive from the US Department of Defense applies to USFK starting today. The rotational deployment schedule of USFK is inevitably affected immediately.

Soldiers and equipment of the 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Infantry Division of the US Army, stationed at Fort Riley, Kansas, entered through Gwangyang Port in Jeollanam-do last February. This unit will serve for nine months with the 2nd Infantry Division and the ROK-US Combined Division and return to Fort Hood, Texas, in the second half of this year. It is highly likely that the 1st Armored Brigade of the 3rd Infantry Division, which has been training at the US Army National Training Center (NTC) since February, will be deployed to replace this unit in the second half of the year. The 1st Armored Brigade was also deployed to Korea in 2018. However, if the COVID-19 outbreak continues, the entire USFK rotational deployment schedule could be disrupted. The situation is similar for Apache helicopter pilots and intelligence unit members stationed at Camp Humphreys (K-6) in Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province.

US Navy Rear Admiral William Byrne, Deputy Chief of Staff of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, said at a briefing on the 10th (local time), in response to a question about whether there could be disruptions to USFK deployment, "We are reviewing the issue of personnel entering and leaving every day," adding, "Especially as the summer movement period approaches, we are reaching agreements across departments regarding personnel movement."

If COVID-19 Spread Continues, USFK Rotational Deployment Schedule Disrupted
ROK-US Disagreement on Defense Cost-Sharing Deepens Emotional Rift with Korean Workers
Outdoor Training Disrupted; Strengthening Joint Training with Japan Self-Defense Forces Rather Than Korea

The ROK and US have yet to agree on the 11th Special Measures Agreement (SMA) on defense cost-sharing, which should have been applied from January this year, making friction between USFK and Korean workers on US military bases inevitable. Amid the agreement gap, the US has repeatedly pressured Korea by introducing measures such as unpaid leave for Korean workers employed by USFK. This has only worsened the sentiments of Korean workers.

Emotions intensified especially after a Korean employee of a cooperating company who was infected with COVID-19 concealed the diagnosis and entered the base, leading to a ban on all base entries. USFK Commander Robert Abrams revealed his feelings on the 11th during an appearance on AFN Radio, the USFK broadcast, stating, "The Korean contract worker who tested positive for COVID-19 a few days ago was not honest, and he has been permanently banned from all base entries."

USFK's training schedule is also inevitably disrupted. The ROK-US military authorities decided on the 27th of last month to postpone joint exercises. Although the military authorities plan to continue small-scale battalion-level joint exercises despite the postponement of the combined exercises, even this is uncertain. Battalion-level joint exercises are scheduled to begin in April. The ROK and US are planning joint mine warfare training, joint rescue training, joint submarine training, joint anti-submarine warfare training, and maritime special operations (MC-SOF). Additionally, the ROK-US Marine Corps is preparing for the tactical unit-level outdoor maneuver exercise called 'KMEP' training. KMEP training is an annual small-unit joint exercise program conducted by US Marine Corps units stationed in Okinawa, Japan, together with ROK Marine Corps units in places such as Pohang.

Some suggest that as the domestic COVID-19 spread continues, the US side may increase joint training with Japan. US Forces Japan Commander Kevin Schneider said at a press conference hosted by the Japan Press Club on the 25th of last month, regarding North Korea, "It is necessary to maintain the readiness of the combined joint forces until final, fully verified denuclearization (FFVD) is achieved," and explained, "The US and Japan must be prepared to respond to any provocations from North Korea."

From the 12th to the 28th of last month, the US, Japan Self-Defense Forces, and Australian forces conducted the large-scale annual joint air military exercise called Cope North. The exercise involved 2,000 personnel and about 1,000 aircraft.