US-ROK Joint Military Exercises Begin, North Korea's Response is 'None'

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Yoo In-ho] The South Korean and U.S. military authorities have commenced the first half joint command post training (CCPT), which has been significantly scaled down due to the impact of COVID-19. This joint exercise will be conducted in the form of computer simulations from the 8th to the 18th, with no outdoor field maneuvers.

A military official stated, "The first half joint command post training began in the early hours of the 8th," adding, "The exercise is being conducted with strict implementation of quarantine measures to prevent COVID-19, and the scale of participants has been minimized compared to previous years." Accordingly, the ROK-U.S. forces have dispersed command posts, including the Joint Chiefs of Staff, the B-1 document storage bunker of the Capital Defense Command, and the U.S. Forces Korea bunker in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, minimizing gatherings of personnel except for essential staff.

The verification of Full Operational Capability (FOC) of the future Combined Forces Command for the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) will not be conducted. However, the exercise includes some theater operation rehearsals led by the future Combined Forces Command commanded by a South Korean general. Although the FOC verification will not be conducted this time, the future Combined Forces Command, led by a South Korean general, will be tentatively evaluated on its capability to command theater operations on the Korean Peninsula in case of emergency.

The ROK-U.S. forces are reportedly negotiating to conduct the FOC verification exercise during the second half joint training. If the COVID-19 situation does not improve by the time of the second half exercise scheduled around August, it is highly likely that the FOC verification will not be conducted. In such a case, the transfer of wartime operational control will inevitably be delayed. Meanwhile, North Korea has not issued any official statement regarding the joint exercise, which is the first since the inauguration of the Joe Biden U.S. administration, as of the morning of the 8th.