S. Korea likely to scale back military exercise with U.S.

Aug 09, 2021, 09:30 am

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The South Korean and US military authorities have reportedly agreed to conduct the upcoming summertime military exercises as planned with a minimum level of troops from both sides. The photo shows USFK combat equipment on standby at USFK Camp Casey in Dongducheon-si, Gyeonggi Province on August 5, 2021./ Source: Yonhap News

AsiaToday reporter Lee Seok-jong

The controversial ROK-US military drills are expected to be conducted as planned, but the size and scope are likely to be scaled back.

The military authorities say the move is due to the resurging COVID-19 pandemic, but some criticize that it reflects the demand of Kim Yo-jong, the powerful sister of North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.

On the other hand, there is a concern that the move could blow away a valuable opportunity to advance

the reconciliatory mood, created by the restoration of the inter-Korean communication liaison line, to establish denuclearization and peace on the Korean Peninsula.

According to military sources on Sunday, the South Korean and US military authorities have agreed to reduce the number of troops participating in the joint drills, in consideration of the resurging COVID-19 pandemic. However, they have decided not to adjust the existing drill scenario and schedule.

Such decision seems to have reflected the recommendations of the South Korean health authorities to prevent the spread of the virus. Recently, the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Korea has fluctuated between 1,700 and 1,800, and the highly contagious Delta variant has become dominant in the country, raising concerns about the further spread of COVID-19.

In particular, there are high risks of contracting COVID-19 during the drills as drill-participating soldiers could be in crowded spaces and spend long periods of time together in close proximity. Besides, there is a risk of breakthrough infection even though most of the South Korean and American soldiers would have been vaccinated.

As a result, the South Korean and US military authorities are reportedly scaling back the size and scope of the annual exercises compared to the previous exercises held back on March 8 to 18. The Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) is likely to take place for 11 days from Aug. 16 following four days of crisis management staff training starting Tuesday. The verification of full operational capability (FOC), which was not carried out during the springtime drills, is not expected to take place this time.

The FOC evaluates command ability necessary of Future Combined Forces Command, which will exercise wartime operation control (OPCON), and is a key procedure for the OPCON transfer. However, South Korea and US military authorities are reportedly planning to conduct rehearsals instead of FOC verification by allowing the South Korean military commander command the South Korea-US Combined Forces during some of the drills.

If this happens, it will be virtually difficult to transfer OPCON within the term of President Moon Jae-in.

Meanwhile, the South Korean and US military authorities will reportedly soon notify the North of the exercise schedule and its nature through the UN Command’s direct phone line. Through this, they plan to highlight the fact that the upcoming combined drills are purely defensive in nature and a computer-simulated combined command post training that has been conducted annually.

#South Korea #military exercise #US