[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Moon Jae-in's Pledge on Wartime Operational Control Transfer Deferred to Next Administration

Minister of National Defense Suh Wook (right) and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin are preparing for the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) expanded talks held on the morning of the 2nd at the Ministry of National Defense's main conference room in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. Photo by Joint Press Corps

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The South Korean and U.S. military authorities have set a deadline to conduct the Future Combined Forces Command (CFC) Full Operational Capability (FOC) evaluation next year.

On the 2nd, Defense Minister Seo Wook and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin announced this after holding the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Ministry of National Defense in Yongsan-gu, Seoul. They stated in a joint statement and joint press conference, "We have agreed to evaluate the FOC of the Future CFC during the Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) in the second half of next year."

The FOC evaluation corresponds to the second phase of the three-stage evaluation process to assess the operational capability of the Future CFC, which will be commanded by a South Korean general (four-star) after the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON).

Even after the FOC evaluation next year, the transfer of wartime OPCON, a pledge of the Moon Jae-in administration, will ultimately be deferred to the next government. However, since the key evaluation, the FOC assessment, is agreed to be conducted next year, it is expected to create momentum to accelerate the OPCON transfer, drawing attention to whether the new government will determine the ‘transfer timing.’

Meanwhile, the statement said, "The two ministers reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait, as reflected in the joint statement of the summit between President Biden and President Moon in May 2021."

Although this is a direct quote from the May U.S.-South Korea summit joint statement, the inclusion of the Taiwan issue in the SCM joint statement, which symbolizes U.S.-South Korea military cooperation and serves as a diplomatic document, is likely to be received sensitively by China. China generally regards any discussion of the Taiwan issue by other countries as interference in its internal affairs and has strongly opposed it.

Additionally, at this SCM, the two countries agreed to complete the relocation of the U.S.-South Korea Combined Forces Command headquarters to Pyeongtaek by next year, which is linked to the return of the Yongsan base. The headquarters relocation is expected to begin as early as June next year. In particular, the relocation of the Combined Forces Command headquarters, considered a key to the return of the Yongsan base, is expected to accelerate the overall return of the Yongsan base pursued by the government.

Furthermore, the SCM joint statement, held for the first time under the Biden administration, restored the content stating that the size of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) will be maintained at the current level.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Defense announced the results of the Global Posture Review (GPR) of overseas U.S. forces, stating that the USFK will maintain its current troop levels but will convert the rotational Apache attack helicopter unit and the artillery brigade headquarters into permanent units.

Converting rotational units into permanently stationed units enhances wartime response capabilities, effectively increasing military strength. With this content included in the GPR, speculation about a reduction of U.S. forces in Korea is expected to be dismissed. Since the launch of the Biden administration, the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives have removed the reduction restriction clause in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) that prohibited the use of funds if USFK was reduced below 28,500 troops.

Moreover, the U.S. has strengthened its military power in the Indo-Pacific region to counter North Korea and China. This includes infrastructure improvements in Pacific island regions such as Australia and Guam, and the deployment of rotational air force units to Australia.

Meanwhile, the Apache attack helicopter unit (an aviation battalion of the 2nd Infantry Division of USFK), converted into a permanent unit, recently deployed Apache Guardian (AH-64E) helicopters capable of joint operations with the Gray Eagle (MQ-1C) drones, known for decapitation operations. The artillery brigade (201st Fire Brigade) possesses Multiple Launch Rocket Systems (MLRS), Army Tactical Missile Systems (ATACMS), and new Multiple Launch Rocket Launchers (M270A1), playing a role in neutralizing North Korean long-range artillery and multiple rocket launcher positions.