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(From left) John Noh, acting U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs; Adm. Samuel Paparo, commander of U.S. Indo-Pacific Command; and Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, testify during a House Armed Services Committee hearing at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C., on April 9. / Source: Hearing video capture

Gen. Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), stated on April 9 that the United States and South Korea signed a new combined operational plan (OPLAN) last year in response to North Korea’s advancement of weapons of mass destruction (WMD).

Brunson, who also leads the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command, submitted a 14-page report ahead of his testimony at a U.S. House Armed Services Committee hearing, noting, “We signed a new OPLAN last year, marking significant progress in combined readiness.” The updated plan builds on existing strategies such as OPLAN 5027, focused on full-scale war, and OPLAN 5015, which covers local conflicts, regime collapse, and other emergencies.

There is growing interest in whether the new plan includes provisions for responding to a North Korean nuclear attack. Brunson said the plan will enable the combined command to better prepare for potential hostilities even before a conflict begins, particularly given North Korea's increasingly sophisticated WMD and missile capabilities. “We will continue to refine and use the plan, adapt our training to it, and seek new opportunities to enhance integration and interoperability,” he said, adding that the plan was tested and validated during joint exercises like Freedom Shield and Ulchi Freedom Shield.

Meanwhile, John Noh, acting U.S. assistant secretary of defense for Indo-Pacific security affairs, said during the same hearing that the U.S. and South Korea have strengthened cooperation in industrial base and science and technology (S&T), and that South Korean firms are participating in pilot projects for maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) of USFK aircraft and naval support vessels.

In a joint statement during the U.S.-ROK Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) last October 30, the two defense ministers agreed to include realistic scenarios involving North Korean nuclear use in future joint drills. They also agreed to launch a new vice-ministerial Defense Science and Technology Cooperation Committee (DSEC) to coordinate bilateral efforts.

Noh emphasized that the U.S. continues to rely on South Korea’s contributions to regional sustainment, including MRO support.