U.S., S.K. leaders agree on wartime control transfer; GNP mulls next move
The main opposition Grand National Party (GNP) has been opposed to the transfer of wartime operational control. However, an agreement forged during a summit between President Roh Moo-hyun and U.S. president George W. Bush has the transfer being proceeded with according to plan, leaving the GNP wondering about their next move. Currently, U.S. Forces Korea maintains military command in South Korea during times of war. The current administrations in Seoul and Washington are pushing for the return of this command to South Korea within the next three to six years. Before the summit between the two leaders, held at White House on September 14, about 10 GNP legislators staged a sit-in at the South Korean National Assembly building. Their efforts were to no avail, as presidents Roh and Bush concluded they would push ahead with the command transfer. Moreover, the American president said that the command transfer "should not become a political issue." The GNP now sees itself in a dilemma, as it can either maintain its position - which goes against the U.S. administration’s plans - or it can withdraw its demands.For the moment, the GNP will likely change the focus of its objection to the cost of the nation’s plan to regain wartime command. GNP spokesperson Na Kyeong-won commented yesterday, "First of all, the government should come up with a resolution on how to fund the enormous financial burden of the 621 trillion won (about US$646 billion) needed to exert wartime operational control independently." Rep. Sim Jae-cheol of the GNP said that "if the two sides have agreed to wartime command transfer, the next issue is about the cost. We are going to take issue with the concrete transfer cost and the tax burden following it." Despite the agreement forged at the S.K.-U.S. summit, GNP members have decided to protest the military command transfer as scheduled, by joining conservative rallies scheduled across the nation as well as a signature-collecting campaign. The GNP plans to continue to raise the problem at hearings of the National Assembly’s Defense Committee. In the meantime, the GNP will send five of its lawmakers led by Lee Sang-deuk, the National Assembly vice speaker, to the U.S. tomorrow to try to persuade U.S. congressmen of the GNP’s official stance. However, the GNP is likely to limit its campaign to the National Assembly following the Roh-Bush summit, leaving the planning for public rallies and campaigns up to conservative groups. A GNP official, who asked not to be named, said, "A few party leaders demand to stage a [GNP-led] campaign opposing the wartime control transfer outside of the National Assembly, as well, but the GNP is taking a very cautious position. If the GNP moves [its campaign] out of the National Assembly, conservative groups may lose their spontaneity and driving force [surrounding the issue]," added the official. Some GNP lawmakers of the party have raised opposition with the party’s decision to join the conservative groups’ signature-gathering campaign, with one saying, "The party is [too married to] conservative forces."
