A group of conservative civic organizations on Tuesday launched a signature-collecting campaign opposing South Korea's plan to regain the full operational control of its troops from the United States.
The organizations -- which include groups of retired generals, diplomats and Protestant activists -- said it is too early to take back the authority, citing North Korea's nuclear and missile threats.
"We can only discuss South Korea reclaiming the wartime operational control when North Korea gives up its nuclear program and adopts an open-door policy so that a peace regime is established on the peninsula," the groups said in a statement.
South Korea voluntarily handed over the operational control of its military to the American-led U.N. command during the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korea took back the peacetime operational control in 1994, but its wartime operational control still lies in the hands of the chief of U.S. troops in South Korea.
The South Korean government of President Roh Moo-hyun said it hopes to get back the wartime operational control by 2012, saying it is a matter of national pride and sovereignty. The U.S. counter-proposed transferring the power by 2009, sparking speculation that it was frustrated by South Korea's move.
The conservative groups said they aim to collect 5 million signatures, accusing the Roh government of deliberately raising the issue to muster liberal votes ahead of next year's presidential elections.
The U.S. currently stations 30,000 troops in South Korea to deter possible aggression from North Korea's 1.2-million army, the world's fifth largest.
Seoul, Sept. 12 (Yonhap News)
Conservatives collect signatures against regaining wartime operational control |
