The United States will remain a "committed and faithful ally" of South Korea to deter aggression from North Korea, even if it returns its wartime operational control of South Korean troops, a top American military officer said Thursday.
South Koreans have been sharply divided over when to regain the wartime authority, after the U.S. said it wants to return it by 2009, three years earlier than their target year of 2012.
"Regardless of the command arrangements and as long as we are welcome and wanted in your nation, the United States will remain a committed and faithful ally," said Gen. B. B. Bell, chief of U.S. Forces Korea, during a forum.
"Our commitment to the security of the Republic of Korea will not be compromised," he said, using South Korea's official name, Republic of Korea.
South Korea put the full operational control of its military under the American-led U.N. command during the 1950-53 Korean War.
South Korea took back the peacetime operational control in 1994, but the wartime control still lies in the hands of the top U.S. military commander in Seoul. Bell reiterated Washington's proposal that South Korea get back the authority by 2009.
"If a decision by our governments is made to proceed now, it is my military assessment that such a transition can be achieved -- with assured continued deterrence and warfighting readiness -- over a three year period of focused organizational activity, training and exercising," he said.
"This could result in executing the transition to ROK independent command in the year 2009."
Conservative forces in South Korea say it is still premature to take back the authority, as that will lead to a weakened U.S. military commitment amid North Korea's nuclear standoff. Adding fuel to security jitters were media reports that North Korea may be preparing for an underground nuclear test.
Progressive forces supporting President Roh Moo-hyun, on the other hand, argue the regaining of the authority is a matter of national sovereignty and pride. The U.S. currently has 30,000 troops stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the Korean War, but its troop level here is to be downsized to 25,000 by 2008 under a global troop realignment plan.
Seoul, Sept. 7 (Yonhap News)
USFK chief reaffirms security commitment despite transfer of operational control |
