According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, the US reportedly made additional demands in this year's talks on transferring wartime operational control, seeking stronger counter-battery capability such as Chunmoo rocket launchers and more surveillance assets. The defense ministry pushed back.
The Kyunghyang Shinmun reported on Oct. 15 that the US is understood to have added conditions in this year's talks with South Korea on transferring wartime operational control (OPCON). The demands reportedly concern strengthening counter-battery capability, including the Chunmoo multiple rocket launcher, a core South Korean strike asset, and surveillance and reconnaissance assets, citing the advance of North Korea's missile capabilities.
광고 문의 · 300×250The Chunmoo has two modules depending on munition type and can carry from two to 12 missiles. On surveillance, a larger fleet of medium-altitude unmanned reconnaissance aircraft (MUAV) was mentioned. The paper described the MUAV as a domestically built drone whose first unit was produced in April, with a 500 km operating radius, high-resolution imaging and transmission, and the ability to carry weapons.
Commander's remarks and Seoul's response
According to the Kyunghyang Shinmun, US Forces Korea commander Brunson said in a keynote at a Washington think tank seminar on Oct. 14 local time, citing North Korean missile threats, that the conditions for OPCON transfer have “clearly changed,” meaning the plan has also changed and there are new standards to meet.
Defense ministry spokesperson Jung Bit-na said at a regular briefing, stressing it was her personal view, that Washington is trying to “move the goalposts,” and that if they keep moving, OPCON transfer will never happen. Defense Minister Kang Shin-chul told the Legislation and Judiciary Committee, in reply to Progressive Party lawmaker Son Sol, that the conditions have “not changed,” though he said whether they are met can depend on perspective.
Government position and outlook
Seoul's position is that the previously agreed Conditions-based OPCON Transition Plan (COTP) must be kept and that additional force build-up responding to a changed security environment can be pursued in consultation after the transfer. The Kyunghyang Shinmun also said Kang indicated that a transfer now would pose no problem.
An unnamed government source told the paper it looks like “conditions begetting more conditions,” warning that the yardstick for the same conditions could keep rising if a changing security environment is repeatedly cited. The source said the issue should be settled by political decision such as a summit rather than at the military level. The US government's official position is not confirmed in this report.