Firmly maintaining the allied relationship to prepare for contingencies while promoting the denuclearization of North Korea and easing of tensions has been confirmed by both the United States and South Korea. This is of no small significance.
U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis visited Seoul and met with his South Korean counterpart, Song Young Moo. His visit came just after the two countries, amid a favorable atmosphere for dialogue following the U.S.-North Korea summit, decided to call off their joint military exercise Freedom Guardian planned for later this summer as well as joint training of their marine corps.
During the meeting, Mattis emphasized the U.S. standpoint that the cancellation will help increase the scope for promoting U.S.-North Korea negotiations on denuclearization. Song also explained the cancellation was aimed at "confidence-building and peace-settlement measures."
Mattis and Song have agreed also to push these steps as long as the North continues "dialogue in good faith."
The aim of drawing a positive response from Pyongyang through the cancellation of joint exercises is understandable. Considering the fact that concerns increased last year about a U.S.-North Korea military clash, the moves prioritizing dialogue and easing military tensions should be hailed.
The problem is that denuclearization of the North is making little headway. Realizing a meeting between U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and a high-ranking North Korean official, which was supposed to have been held immediately after the U.S.-North Korea summit, has been delayed for some time.
Mattis and Song had every reason to confirm that the U.N. Security Council's sanctions resolutions must be carried out until concrete and irreversible steps toward denuclearization are taken by Pyongyang.
Command transfer issue key
They stressed that the two countries will cope with threats to the U.S.-South Korea alliance and continue to maintain their strong allied defense system.
The situation remains unchanged in which the North concentrates its artillery near the military demarcation line with the South to confront U.S. and South Korean forces. Even if large-scale joint exercises are called off, the U.S. and South Korean militaries need to make arrangements not to decrease their quick-response capability.
As for U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, Mattis said the United States will be "maintaining the current U.S. force levels." This is highly laudable.
After his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, U.S. President Donald Trump mentioned the possibility of U.S. forces in South Korea being scaled back or pulled out in the future. This is nothing but a thoughtless remark.
Reduction or pullout of U.S. forces in South Korea would significantly influence security arrangements in Northeast Asia. In light of China's expanding military threats and possible ripple effects on U.S. forces stationed in Japan, it is too early to discuss the reexamination of U.S. forces in South Korea at this juncture.
Whether to transfer wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea is an issue left pending between the two countries. The defense ministers of the two countries have agreed to strive to improve the environment required for the realization of this. This gave a glimpse into the administration of South Korean President Moon Jae In's desire to call for early transfer of command of wartime operations.
Washington and Seoul must discuss the transfer issue prudently in a way not to undermine their capabilities to deal with North Korean threats.
(From The Yomiuri Shimbun, June 29, 2018)
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