0
Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul answers a question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo about the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) during a comprehensive parliamentary audit of the Ministry of National Defense, the Joint Chiefs of Staff and other agencies under the jurisdiction of the National Assembly's Defense Committee on Oct. 26. / Yonhap News Agency

Korea's Defense Ministry moved to clarify remarks made by Minister Kang Shin-chul during a parliamentary audit questioning whether U.S. troops could be trusted in the event of a war between South and North Korea, saying that his remarks were intended to emphasize mutual trust between the two allies.

Defense Ministry spokesperson Chung Bin-na made the remarks during a regular press briefing in Yongsan District, Seoul, on Oct. 27, in response to a question about the intent behind Kang's comments.

"If you look at the question raised during the parliamentary audit itself, the point was that the United States is experiencing difficulties in its war with Iran. Minister Kang was responding with a rhetorical question," Chung said. "His point was that, according to the lawmaker's assessment of the U.S.-Iran war, it would seem that we could not trust U.S. forces even if war broke out with North Korea, but that is not the case. I hope people will consider his remarks in their entirety."

She added, "The fact that he immediately emphasized trust afterward should make the intent and purpose of his remarks clearer. The minister has stressed the importance of the South Korea-U.S. alliance and mutual trust since he was a ministerial nominee. I find it hard to believe he would have made such remarks to suggest that U.S. forces cannot be trusted."

Kang made the remarks during a parliamentary audit by the National Assembly's Defense Committee the previous day. At the time, People Power Party lawmaker Sung Il-jong urged caution over the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), saying, "Everyone wants to achieve self-reliant national defense, and we must do so. Nobody denies that. However, I question whether it is actually possible amid changing circumstances." He added, "When we looked at the war between the military power that is the United States and Iran, or the war between Russia and Ukraine, we wondered whether they would even be evenly matched, yet the wars have dragged on until now."

In response, Kang said, "It is excessive to suggest that transferring OPCON would be tantamount to our country collapsing or that our survival would be threatened. Are we not also witnessing what the United States is experiencing with Iran?" He continued, "But if war breaks out with North Korea, can we trust those U.S. forces? That is not the case. That is why we intend to transfer OPCON with mutual trust assured and establish a system in which a South Korean general takes command and U.S. forces provide support."

Addressing claims of a rift in South Korea-U.S. relations, including restrictions on intelligence concerning North Korea, Kang also said, "Military intelligence exchanges are proceeding smoothly." When Sung objected, asking, "Then why would the ambassador say such a thing?" Kang replied, "That is not a military matter. In military terms, we are blood allies."

                                                                                                              Lee Han-sol