Text Fwd: Navy, Air Force generals may rotate as JCS head

Korea Times
Navy, Air Force generals may rotate as JCS head
By Jung Sung-ki
Sept. 6, 2010

In an effort to increase interoperability between the three military services, the Lee Myung-bak administration is considering rotating top generals from the Army, Navy and Air Force to the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), a government source said Monday.

The idea was recently suggested by a presidential ad hoc commission on defense affairs to President Lee, the source said.

Except for former Air Force Gen. Lee Yang-ho, who served as JCS chairman between 1993 and 1994, the joint military operational body has been headed by the Army general with the logic that an Air Force or Navy commander couldn’t command and control the nation’s Army-dominated armed forces.

Criticism has often risen over the Army-dominated military structure, as operational and arms acquisition plans have often been focused on ground forces.

Currently, there are about 520,000 Army troops, while the Navy has some 68,000 personnel and the Air Force, 65,000.

“There is a consensus among the government and military that such a rotation of the JCS chairmanship would help complement the weak sides of the ROK military and instead maximize its strong points,” the source said on condition of anonymity. “President Lee is also supportive of the plan.”

If a Navy or Air Force general took charge of the JCS, an Army general could assume the chief of an envisaged theater command, which will be established by 2015 in tandem with the transition of wartime operational control from the United States to South Korea, according to the source.

In 2015, South Korea and the United States will set up their own theater commands after deactivating the Combined Forces Command. With the transfer, the South Korean military is to lead ground operations in wartime, and the U.S. military is to shift its role to a naval and air-centric one.

Since his inauguration, the President has called for improving interoperability of the three military branches.

To that end, the military is considering merging the academies of the three services.
gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Photos Fwd: We oppose the South Koreans’ paying for the whole cost of the relocation of the USFK bases

* All the image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea on Aug. 31, 2010

미군기지 이전협정(LPP) 전면 부정하는 기지 이전비용 전액 한국 부담 반대!
104차 평화군축집회 - 2010 년 8월 31일
We oppose the South Koreans’ paying for the whole cost of the relocation of the USFK bases, which totally denies the Land Partnership Plan (LPP) !
104th Peace Disarmament rally-Aug. 31, 2010

'△ 원래 용산기지 이전 비용은 한국이, 미2사단 이전비용은 미국이 부담하기로 한 것을,
방위비 분담금을 불법으로 축적하여 전용한다고 하더니,
결국은 한국보고 모두 부담하라는 미국, 그 돈 줄 필요 없으니 돌아가라!!'
'△ It was supposed that the ROK would pay for the cost for the relocation of the Yonsan base while the United States would pay for the relocation of the US army 2nd division.
Then [the United States] said that she would appropriate the defense budget sharing cost illegally accumulated.
Now the United States who finally says the ROK should pay all the cost. Go back home, we don’t need to give the money to you!!'

'Ulterior motives behind the restoration of the conscription term
: Increment of the defense budget & retreat of the defense reform'
_________________________________________________________
* Related blog

Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Text Fwd: [Translation]Bills of the ROK-US Alliance, Continuously flying into [the ROK]
계속 날아드는 한미동맹 청구서
_________________________________________________________
* Related articles

Korea Times 08-30-2010
Questions rise over cost-sharing for US base relocation in Korea

Korea Times 08-30-2010
Debate on military service period heats up

Text Fwd: [Translation]Bills of the ROK-US Alliance, Continuously flying into [the ROK] 계속 날아드는 한미동맹 청구서

* Image source: Same as the linked article

▲ "방위비분담금 전액 삭감!" 2008년 10월 8차 방위비분담특별협정 협상이 진행 중인 외교통상부 정문 앞에서 평통사 회원들이 방위비분담금 전액 삭감을 요구하고 있다. ⓒ 유영재
▲ “Cut whole defense budget sharing cost!” Members of the Solidarity for Peace And reunification of Korea are demanding to cut the whole defense budget sharing cost in front of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade Department where the 8th Special Measure Agreement is being processed in October, 2008. ⓒ Ryu Young-Jae
___________________________________________________________

* The below is hurried arbitrary translation from the linked article.

Ohmynews
계속 날아드는 한미동맹 청구서
: 돈 한 푼 안 내고 첨단기지 짓겠다는 미국 속내 속속 드러나
Bills of the ROK-US Alliance, Continuously flying into [the ROK] :The United States’ intentions that she would build the high-tech base with no cost [from herself] are being revealed one after another.

10.08.30
Oct. 30, 2010

유영재, 평화와 통일을 여는 사람들 미군 문제 팀장
Ryu Young-Jae
Director of the USFK Matters
Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea

미국이 마침내 주한미군기지 이전비용을 단 한 푼도 내지 않겠다는 속내를 드러냈다.

The United States has finally revealed her intentions that she would not be charged of any cost for the relocation of the USFK bases.

한미당국은 10월 초 열리는 한미안보협의회(SCM)에서 전시작전통제권 환수 연기 계획인 '전략동맹 2015'을 채택할 예정인데, 미국이 여기에서 미군기지이전사업에 소요되는 공사비 4조7천억원을 우리 정부가 미측에 지불하는 방위비분담금을 전용해 충당한다는 내용을 명기하겠다는 뜻을 밝혔다고 한다.

While the authorities of the ROK-US are to adopt the ‘strategic alliance 2015’ that is the plan for the postponement of the redemption of the war time operational control (OPCON) right at the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) that is held in early October, it is told that the United States expressed her will that she would state the content that she would meet the construction cost of 4 trillion 700 billion won [about $3billion] for the relocation business of the USFK base, by appropriating the defense-sharing cost that out government pays for.

미측은 1조7천억원 가량의 설계비 등도 한국 정부가 현금으로 제공하는 방안을 보증해주도록 요구했다고 한다. 이는 한국이 제공하는 방위비분담금을 계속 빼돌려서 자신들이 부담하기로 되어있는 미2사단이전비용을 모두 충당하겠다는 뜻이다.

It is also told that the United States demanded that she would assure the measure of which the ROK government would provide the cash for the layout cost of about 1trillion 700 billion won [about $1.4billion]. It means that she intends to meet all the relocation cost for the US army 2nd division, which has been supposed to be paid by her, by continuously diverting all the defense-sharing cost that the ROK would provide.

한미양국은 2004년에 협정을 맺어 용산미군기지이전은 한국이, 미2사단이전비용은 미국이 부담하기로 했다. 한국 정부는 이에 따라 전체 미군기지이전비용을 한미양국이 절반씩 부담할 것이라고 국민에게 밝혀왔다.

The authorities of ROK-US having an agreement in 2004, decided that the ROK charges for the relocation of the Yongsan USFK base while the United States charge for the 2nd army division. Following it, the ROK government has announced its people that the whole relocation cost will be paid half by half both by the authorities of the ROK and US.

미2사단이전비용 한국 부담은 LPP협정 위반

The South Korean charge for the relocation cost for the 2nd U. S. army division is the violation of the Land Partnership Plan(LPP) agreement

그런데 미국은 2001년부터 방위비분담금 중 현금으로 지급되는 군사건설비(MILCON)를 미2사단 이전비용으로 충당할 목적으로 2008년 10월 현재 1조1193억원을 축적해왔고 한국 정부는 이를 국민과 국회에 알리지 않고 제멋대로 묵인해왔다.

However, the United States has accumulated about 1trillion 119.3 billion 300 million won [about $9.3billion] of the military construction cost (MILCON) that is provided with cash among the defense sharing costs for the purpose to meet the relocation cost for the 2nd army division, as of this October, 2010 and the ROK government has connived as it pleases, without informing to its people and national Assembly.

이는 미2사단이전비용은 미국이 부담하도록 명시되어 있는 한미연합토지관리계획(LPP)개정협정 4조 1항에 대한 명백한 위반이다. 이 밖에도 헌법과 국가재정법, 국회법 등 국내법과 한미SOFA, 방위비분담금협정 등 한미 간 협정의 관련 규정에 모두 어긋난다.

This is a clear violation of the 1st clause, article 4, in the Land Partnership Plan(LPP) in which it is stated that the relocation cost for the US 2nd army division is supposed to be charged by the United States. Beside that, it also runs counter against the domestic laws -such as the Constitution, law on the national finance and law on the national Assembly- and ROK-US agreements such as the ROK-US Status of Forces Agreement and Special Measure Agreement(SMA) [that is on the sharing cost of the defense budget].

이에 대한 불법성 논란이 확산되자 한미당국은 2008~2009년의 8차 방위비분담 특별협정 체결 협상과정에서 방위비분담금 전용을 인정하는 전제 위에서 시설의 설계 및 시공감리와 관련된 비용을 제외하고는 현금 지원을 현물지원으로 전환하는 합의를 했다.

As the controversy on the illegality has been expanded, the authorities of the ROK-US agreed with each other to converse the cash support to the spot supports, except for the cost related to the layout and supervision of the construction, on the premise that they acknowledged the appropriation of the defense budget sharing cost, during the negotiation process of the 8th Special Measure Agreement in 2008~2009.

한미당국은 이 과정에서 방위비분담금 전용을 2013년까지 허용하기로 했다. 이는 방위비분담금 전용이 불법 부당하다는 점을 한미당국이 간접적으로 인정한 것으로 볼 수 있다. 그런데 미국은 천안함 사건과 전시작전통제권 환수 연기를 계기로 여기서 한 발 더 나아가 기왕의 문제가 있는 합의까지 무시하고, 방위비분담금 불법 전용을 2015년까지 더 연장할 것과 '전략동맹 2015'에 주한미군기지이전을 한국이 모두 부담하는 내용을 명시해달라고 요구하고 있는 것이다.

During the process, the ROK & US authorities agreed each other to permit the [US] appropriation of the defense budget sharing cost by 2013. It can be seen as the ROK & US authorities indirectly acknowledged that the appropriation of the defense budget sharing cost was illegal and unjust. However, now the United States further ignoring the problematic existing agreement upon the moments of the Cheonan ship incident and postponement of the redemption of the war time OPCON right, is demanding the ROK to state to extend the illegal appropriation of the defense sharing cost into 2015 and to charge all the costs for the relocation of the USDK base in the ‘Strategic Alliance 2015.”

미국은 방위비분담금 중 군사건설비 현물지원 등을 통해 미2사단을 건축할 뿐만 아니라 자신들이 현금으로 부담해야 할 2013년 이후의 설계 및 시공감리 비용까지 한국민의 혈세인 방위비분담금으로 충당하려는 것이다.

The United States not only intends to construct the [new facility] for the US end army division through the spot support for the military construction cost among the defense budget sharing costs but also intends to make even the layout & construction supervision cost after 2013 that they have to pay with spots charged by the defense budget sharing cost which is the blood tax by the South Koreans.

미국이 공격적 군사전략에 따라 미군을 신속기동군으로 바꾸기 위해 평택으로 미군 기지를 확장이전하면서 협정을 통해 자신들이 부담하기로 한 비용까지 모두 한국에 강요하는 것은 우리 국민이 도저히 받아들일 수 없는 일방적이고 불법적이며 낯 두꺼운 태도라 하지 않을 수 없다.

The attitude of the United States who expands and relocates the USFK bases into Pyongtaek to change the United States Forces of Korea as the expeditionary forces, enforces the ROK to pay even all the costs that she was supposed to pay cannot but be told as the unilateral, illegal and white-faced that our people can hardly accept.

한미동맹 청구서 3탄?
Is it the part 3 of the ROK-US Alliance Bill?

이명박 정부는 천안함 사건을 빌미로 한 대북 적대정책에 미국을 끌어들이면서 지난 6월 캐나다 한미정상회담에서 전시작전통제권 환수 연기 허락을 미국으로부터 받아냈다. 이에 대한 대가설이 제기되자 이명박 정부는 이를 전면 부인하면서 추가 예산소요도 없을 것이라고 강변했다.

The Lee Myung-Bak government drawing the United States into the hostile policy against the North Korea with the excuse of the Cheonan ship incident, received from the United States the permission of the postponement of the recovery of the war time OPCOM right during the ROK-US summit meeting, Canada, June. When there the discourse on the compensation was raised, the Lee Myung-Bak government totally denying it, quibbled that there would be even no supplementary budget need.

그러나 미국이 자동차와 쇠고기 조항에 대한 수정을 요구하는 한미FTA는 이미 한미정상회담 자리에서 오바마 미국 대통령이 협상 일정까지 명시할 정도로 사전 협의가 이뤄져 물밑 협상이 진행 중이다.
However, the [pending ROK-US] Free Trade Agreement in which the United States demand [the ROK] the revision on the clauses in automobiles and beef is being processed behind screen, with its prior agreement being established as for the President Obama to already elucidate the negotiation schedule in the summit meeting between the ROK and US.

뿐만 아니라 이명박 정부는 우리 경제와 외교에 대한 타격을 감수하고 이란에 대한 독자적 제재를 요구하는 미국의 요구를 수용했다. 여기에 더해 미국은 자신이 맺은 협정(LPP)을 완전히 짓밟아 버리고 주한미군기지이전비용 전액 부담을 한국에 요구하고 있는 것이다. 앞으로 아프간에 대한 전투병 재파병 요구도 구체화될 가능성이 높다.

Not only that, the Lee Myung-Bak government willingly submitting the blow to our economy and diplomacy, accepted the demand of the United States who demands the independent sanction against Iran. Adding to that, the United states is completely trampling down the LPP she has signed herself and demanding the ROK the whole charge of the relocation cost for the USFK base. There is high possibility that her demands for the re-sispatch of the combat troops to Afghanistan would be more concrete.

미국은 이처럼 천안함 사건에 대한 협조와 전시작전통제권 환수 연기에 대한 대가를 이명박 정부로부터 톡톡히 받아내고 있다. 한반도 평화위협과 군사주권 박탈의 대가로 외교·안보에 대한 타격은 물론이고 경제 위기와 재정적 부담까지 가중되는 이런 기막힌 상황은 이명박 정부의 한미동맹 몰입 외교와 대북 적대정책이 빚어낸 결과물이다.

The United States is receiving in great deal the compensation for the cooperation on the Cheonan ship incident and postponement of the redemption of the war Time Operational Control right. Such horrible situation in which, not to mention the blow in diplomacy & security, the economic crisis and financial burden add weights at the cost of the threat in the peace in the Korean peninsula and deprivation of the military sovereignty is the result of the Lee Myung-Bak government’s diplomacy being immersed in the ROK-US alliance and its hostile policies against North Korea.

한미동맹을 명분으로 한 불법 부당한 미군기지이전비용 전액 한국 부담을 우리가 과연 허용해야 하는가. 미국 내에서 군사전략 변화와 비용절감의 필요성에 따른 해외 미군감축 움직임이 있는 가운데 평택미군기지확장사업을 계속하는 것은 장차 엄청난 사회적 자원의 낭비를 초래할 수도 있지 않겠는가. 온갖 희생과 부담을 강요하는 족쇄가 되고 있는 불평등한 한미동맹을 우리가 언제까지 감내해야 하는가.

Should we possibly allow the South Korean charge of all the costs for the relocation of the USFK base, which is illegal and unjust, under the name of the ROK-US alliance? When there is the moves for the reduction of the overseas US forces following the needs of the change in the military strategy and costs reduction in the United States, will it not bring the tremendous waste of social resource in the future to continue the expansion business of Pyeongtaek USFK base, will it? By when should we bear the unequal ROK-US alliance that is becoming the leg-iron that enforces all kinds of our sacrifices and burdens?

_____________________________________________________ *

Translator's note

: The annual Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) between Robert Gates and Kim Tae Young (Minister of the National Defense, ROK) was on Oct. 22. According to the Korean activists here, the SCM document, 2009 (check No. 546, HERE), for the first time, explicitly expressed 1: the strengthened U.S.-S.K. alliance regarding Missile Defense, 2: the expansion of the alliance beyond the Korean peninsula (strategic flexibility).
_____________________________________________________

작년 미군 SOFA 사범 63% 급증…절도 `쑥'(서울=연합뉴스, 2010.8.29)
US soldiers’ crimes, especially theft in violation of the SOFA have suddenly increased by 63 % last year (Seoul, Yonhap News, Aug. 29, 2010)

(서울=연합뉴스) 박성민 기자 = 지난해 한미 주둔군지위협정(SOFA)을 위반한 범죄가 급증한 것으로 나타났다. 29일 경찰청이 최근 발간한 `2010 경찰백서'에 따르면 지난해 SOFA 사범은 306명으로 2008년 183명보다 67.2%나 늘어났다. SOFA 적용대상은 주한미군과 군속, 이들의 가족으로 나뉘며 지난해 사범을 분류하면 미군이 201명으로 전년(123명)보다 63.4% 늘었고, 군속 등은 105명으로 2008년(60명)에 비해 75%나 급증했다.
범죄유형을 보면 폭력이 130명(2008년 100명)으로 가장 많았고, 절도 83명(2008년 23명), 지능범 15명(2008년 6명), 강도 7명(2008년 8명), 강간 5명(2008년 5명)이었다. 2008년 3건 발생한 성범죄는 지난해 한 건도 없었고, 최근 5년간 한 건도 없었던 살인은 한 건 발생했다. 경찰은 "최근 3년간 지속적으로 감소하던 절도 범죄가 지난해 많이 늘어난 것이 특징"이라고 말했다.

Text Fwd: USFK Seeks to Expand Role Outside Peninsula

____________________________________________________________________________
Note:

1. “Strategic Flexibility” is the word that was concerned by many activists, here in Korea since 2002 . Please see this site.

The National Campaign for Eradication of Crimes by U.S.Troops in Korea

http://usacrime.or.kr/

(Find English in the top right, then look for the article No. 31, named
‘Realignment of U.S. Forces in Korea and Changes in US-ROK Military Alliance(Oct 2008)’


‘Negotiations on the relocation of U.S. bases within the ROK were initiated by U.S. demand. The U.S. wanted to manage the USFK in a more efficient manner; For example, they sought to reduce the number of army bases by combining bases and army Training Areas, while simultaneously expanding the air bases and exclusive U.S. marine Training Areas. As a result of the negotiations, the ROK and the U.S. signed the Land Partnership Plan1) in 2002.

The U.S. did not stop at simply obtaining the efficient management and reinforcement of Air Force and the Navy (marines). The U.S. also sought to attain the flexibility and option to dispatch its excellently trained USFK to other battlefields in the region.’


2.The strategic flexibility is a transformation of or critical departure from the traditional US-SK alliance, which was based on the alliance against the North Korea, stipulated in the US-SK Mutual Defense Treaty in 1953, right after the Korean war. The transformation meant the USFK in the SK and further, the South Korean troops would involve in any war lead by the US imperial war. The NATO is utilized and expanded to East Asia to effectively integrate the command and control of the Asian countries. Its content has been more and more concretized as you see the current SK dispatch plan to Afghanistan, whose congress pass is expected this Feb. 18. You may refer to the below.


"joint vision for the future ROK-US alliance" (June 16, 2009)

http://www.spark946.org/bugsboard/index.php??dummy=1245146968&BBS=eng_2&action=viewForm&uid=33&page=1

‘The ROK government's decision to send more troops to Afghanistan endangers the lives and the national sovereignty of the Afghan people. Furthermore, it violates the ROK Constitution, which disavows aggressive war (article 5, paragraph 1) and violates the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty (articles 2, 3), which authorizes operations only on the Korean peninsula, and is applicable only on occasion of the armed aggression from outside.’


3. How the transformation of SK-US alliance affects the Japan-US alliance, you may refer to here. It was just accident that I found these two articles below. But it may help.

http://www.drc-jpn.org/AR-7E/Ohkushi-03e.htm
Changing US-ROK Alliance and Japan


'The realignment of the USFK will increase the relative weight and the role of the US forces stationed in Japan. It is highly possible for the US to deploy the Air Force fighter troops to Kadena and Misawa AFBs and the bomber troops to Guam Island rather than to augment the force in South Korea. And additional Carrier Battle Group will be dispatched to the adjacent sea. Moreover, there is a movement to reorganize the US Navy Assault Landing Force in Sasebo to "the Expedition Attack Group (ESG)", adding four combat warships equipped with Tomahawk cruise missiles. The ESG is considered to execute the preemptive strike strategy by heightening the readiness and mobility with missile attack and fleet defense capability in addition to the landing operation. Furthermore, several plans are reported to strengthen the logistic function in East Asia, such as the expansion of the maintenance and supply facilities of the USFJ bases in Japan, and the newly established North-East Asian Command that integrates the USFK and the USFJ.'


http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_international/121577.html
U.S. Japan Envision 'Interoperability' in Troop Realignment Plan:
U.S.-Japan Agrees New Alliance in Washington

‘Zama is expected to play a key role in contingencies in areas surrounding Japan such as the Korean Peninsula and the Taiwan Strait. In a situation where the U.S. is set to reduce its military presence in South Korea, the new U.S. Army command to be set up at Camp Zama would assume charge in an emergency on the Korean Peninsula.

The agreements put the finishing touches on such thorny issues as the transfer of some 8,000 U.S. Marines from Okinawa to Guam, which will eventually facilitate the deployment of U.S. forces to Southeast Asia, a region the U.S. sees as a hotbed of terrorism.

The two countries’ respective headquarters in Japan will be brought together to strengthen interoperability between the Japanese and U.S. forces in hopes of maximizing the benefits at the lowest cost possible. Including the latest decision, there have been three major occasions of U.S. military forces in Japan undergoing structural changes since the early years of the Cold War, and the changes have been made in a way to deepen their bilateral alliance, experts note.

Meanwhile, the headquarters of a Ground Self-Defense Force Central Readiness Force Command will also be transferred to Camp Zama by 2012, a move that will enhance the interoperability of the two countries' forces and pave the way for the operational integration of the flagship forces. In this context, Japan's Air Defense Command will be moved to the headquarters of the U.S. 5th Air Force at Yokota Air Base in Tokyo by 2010 while acting as the headquarters for MD (missile defenses) functions.’

______________________________________________________________________

Korea Times
02-24-2010 21:02
USFK Seeks to Expand Role Outside Peninsula

By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

After its decades-long stationary mission in South Korea, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is taking steps toward expanding its missions to outside the Korean Peninsula, which U.S. defense officials do not consider an acting war zone anymore.

The USFK says the so-called strategic flexibility will not hurt its security commitment to South Korea against a possible North Korean invasion and instead help ensure its stable commitment with longer, family-accompanied tours by U.S. service members here.

Still, there are worries that such flexibility for out-of-area deployment of US troops will weaken the combined defense posture against North Korea.

A senior official at the Ministry of National Defense said last week that South Korean and U.S. defense authorities had opened talks over the issue formally.

"The two governments had already agreed on the issue of strategic flexibility in January 2006, so both sides are discussing how and when the scheme will be implemented," the official said on condition of anonymity. "We're trying to finalize an agreement by the year's end, hopefully before the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) in October."

The official noted his ministry was focusing on getting proper U.S. bridging capability of intelligence-gathering, surveillance and reconnaissance to South Korea despite the U.S. flexible troop redeployment.

No Immediate Plan to Redeploy Troops

The USFK says it has no immediate plan to redeploy troops from the peninsula but the issue will evolve in coming years. It said in a news release earlier this month that redeployment of troops could be possible in the late 2010s after close consultations with the Korean government.

There are currently about 28,500 U.S. troops serving in South Korea. Despite Washington's repeated promises there will be no further cuts to that level, concerns persist that some may be redeployed after Seoul takes back wartime operational control, or OPCON, of its troops from the U.S. on April 17, 2012.

The defense of South Korea "remains the core mission of U.S. forces in Korea and there will be no reduction of U.S. forces tied to wartime OPCON transition," the USFK said in the statement.

In 2006, South Korea agreed to the U.S. strategic flexibility plan aimed at changing the mission of American forces abroad from stationary ones defending host nations to rapid deployment troops that can be swiftly dispatched to other parts of the world where the United States faces conflict, based on mutual consensus.

The agreement, however, ignited concerns that it could weaken the deterrent capability against North Korea, whose nuclear and missile programs pose a grave threat to regional security.

Some are also worried that intervention by the USFK in other regional conflicts, such as the China-Taiwan sovereignty dispute, or the U.S. wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, could have the nation tangled in hostilities with other countries against its will.

"The strategic flexibility is part of the U.S. military's broader plan to realign its overseas forces, so that's not directly related to Seoul's exercise of independent wartime operational control in 2012,'' a senior researcher of the Korea Institute for Defense Analyses (KIDA) said on condition of anonymity. "But it's quite certain that as Seoul assumes more responsibility for national defense in coming years, the U.S. military will have more flexibility in moving its forces in and out of the peninsula."

"The thing is how the U.S. will compensate for the `flow-out' capability," he added. "Personally, I don't believe there will be a significant security vacuum here due to the strategic flexibility scheme, given the U.S. military's overwhelming naval- and air-centric capabilities."

Another defense expert said the strategic flexibility of U.S. troops overseas is an unavoidable "trend.''

He said, "The strategic flexibility is not a matter of conflict but a matter of consultation or coordination. It's time for us to think of what we can get from the U.S. strategic flexibility, not what we can lose from it."

Given that the agreed 21st strategic alliance partnership calls for boosting bilateral cooperation in global issues, we can't and shouldn't deny the strategic flexibility mechanism, said the expert.

"The Lee government should think of how it will get this message across to the public and prevent unnecessary controversy over this issue," he said.

In June, Presidents Lee Myung-bak and Barack Obama issued the Joint Vision for the ROK-US Alliance at the end of their summit in Washington, D.C. The plan calls for building a broader alliance in the realms of politics, economy, culture and other areas, in addition to the security arena.

'No More Combat Zone'

The U.S. Department of Defense approved a new USFK policy in December 2008 that allows about half of its 28,000 troops stationed in South Korea to have their families live with them.

The move reflects a major shift in the American perception toward South Korea, which was once considered too dangerous for families in the face of North Korea's military threats.

The extended tour length will contribute to further solidify the Korea-U.S. alliance by forging lifelong friendships at the family level, USFK officials said. It will also help improve training for service members and reduce stress on troops who have to leave their families behind, they said.

``Tour normalization signals a strong and visible commitment by the United States to the Republic of Korea, reaffirming our intent to remain here for the long term,'' USFK Commander Gen. Walter Sharp said in an interview last year.

``I will say that tour normalization will help establish a strong alliance relationship,'' he continued. ``The principle institutions of the alliance today — the armistice, short tours and the contingency nature of the Combined Forces Command — all have crisis connotations.''

The planned transition of operational control of Korean troops during wartime from the United States to South Korea in 2012 and the tour normalization initiative will move U.S. troops beyond this ``crisis mentality,'' said the commander.

Under the new policy, troops serving in accompanied billets, including Seoul, Osan, Pyeongtaek, Daegu and Jinhae, will stay for three years, while those serving in locations just south of the heavily fortified border, designated Area I, such as Uijeongbu and Dongducheon, will stay for two years.

Unaccompanied tours for most troops will remain at one year, but some "key personnel'' will serve two years of unaccompanied tours.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

US to sell 'bunker-buster' bombs to SKorea: official

* Image source: Wikipedia

* Text informed by Agneta Noberg on June 3, 2009 *

US to sell 'bunker-buster' bombs to SKorea: official
by Staff Writers
Seoul (AFP) June 2, 2009

The United States has agreed to sell "bunker-buster" bombs to South Korea that are capable of destroying underground facilities in North Korea, a military official said Tuesday.

Washington recently approved the sale of GBU-28 bombs, which were used during the 1990-91 Gulf War to destroy underground command centres in Iraq, a defence ministry official told AFP on condition of anonymity.

The laser-guided bombs, which could be used to hit North Korean missiles and aircraft stored underground, will be delivered to South Korea between 2010 and 2014, South Korea's Yonhap news agency reported.

It said that in the event of war South Korean jet fighters would carry the bombs to attack underground targets such as North Korea's nuclear facilities and artillery hidden in caves.

South Korea also plans to purchase other high-tech bombs such as JDAMs, JASSMs and GBU-24s, Yonhap said.

GBU-24s perform better at low altitudes and under poor visibility conditions. JDAMs with global positioning systems would be effective against North Korean artillery while JASSMs are precision cruise missiles, Yonhap said.

"These high-tech bombs are some of the most urgently needed weapons for us to deal with North Korean missile sites and artillery guns," a source told the news agency.

Military officials here say the North's artillery deployed in tunnels along the border poses a serious threat to South Korea.

General Walter Sharp, the top US commander in the South, said in April that the North has the world's largest artillery force.

He said the North is believed to have some 13,000 artillery pieces deployed along the border.

South Korea has generally favoured defence equipment from the United States, which has kept troops here since the 1950-53 Korean War to deter aggression by North Korea.

More than 600,000 South Korean troops, backed by 28,500 US troops, are confronting the potential threat from the North's 1.1 million-strong military.


* Yonhap News Seoul(Korean)
北핵.지하시설 파괴용 GBU-28 수십발 도입
美 판매 승인..'2010~2014 중기계획' 반영
[2009-06-02 10:45 송고]

(서울=연합뉴스) 김귀근 기자 = 유사시 북한의 핵시설과 동굴속 장사정포 등 지하군사시설을 뚫고 들어가 폭파시키는 레이저유도폭탄(GBU-28) 수십 발이 도입된다.

군 소식통은 2일 "미국은 그간 전략무기로 분류해 국외 수출을 엄격히 통제했던 GBU-28 폭탄을 한국에 판매키로 최근 승인했다"면서 "우리 군은 '2010~2014년 국방중기계획'에 이 폭탄 구매계획을 반영했다"고 밝혔다.

미국이 한국에 GBU-28 폭탄을 판매키로 한 것은 북한이 두 차례 핵실험을 하고 장거리 미사일을 발사하는 등 핵과 미사일 위협이 가중되고 있어 이에 대응하는 차원이라고 소식통은 말했다.

그는 "미국이 한국에 전략무기인 무인정찰기 글로벌호크 판매를 승인한 데 이어 GBU-28 폭탄까지 판매키로 한 것은 양국 신뢰관계를 반영하는 것"이라며 "GBU-28 폭탄을 도입한 데 이어 글로벌호크도 구매하는 방안을 적극적으로 고려하고 있다"고 강조했다.

일명 '벙커버스터'로 불리는 GBU-28은 미국이 1991년 걸프전쟁 때 지하 30여m 깊이의 벙커에서 전쟁을 지휘하는 이라크군 사령부를 공격하기 위해 특별히 설계됐다.

스텔스 폭격기나 F-15A 전폭기를 이용, 공중에서 투하한 뒤 레이저로 유도해 목표물에 도달한다. 폭탄에 장착된 2천kg의 탄두는 지상에서 바로 터지지 않고 지하 20~30여m(콘크리트는 6m)까지 뚫고 들어가 폭발하도록 설계되어 있다.

지난 2001년 '테러와의 전쟁'에서는 탈레반과 오사마 빈 라덴의 지하 요새를 공격하기 위해 수도 카불과 탈레반 거점 도시인 칸다하르 등지에 투하된 것으로 알려졌다.

군은 F-15K 전투기에 GBU-28 폭탄을 장착해 유사시 핵시설과 동굴속 장사정포, 지하군사시설 등을 격파한다는 계획이다. GBU-28 폭탄의 제원은 길이 3.8m, 지름 36.8cm, 무게 2천250kg 등이다.

한편 지난 주 평양 산음동 병기연구소에서 대륙간탄도미사일(ICBM)을 싣고 평안북도 철산군 동창리 미사일기지에 도착한 화물열차는 화물칸이 비어 있는 상태로 산음동으로 되돌아온 것으로 알려졌다.

이 때문에 첩보당국은 덮개로 가려진 ICBM이 동창리 기지에서 내려져 조립건물로 옮겨진 것으로 추정하고 있다. 현재 동창리 기지에는 고급 승용차가 빈번하게 출입해 북한군 수뇌부가 방문한 것으로 관측되고 있다.

threek@yna.co.kr

* Related Korean articles

http://www.munhwa.com/news/view.html?no=20090602010301270260040
軍, 북핵 대응 ‘벙커버스터’ 도입
북핵·지하시설 파괴용… 美 수십발 판매 승인
정충신기자 csjung@munhwa.com

http://search.munhwa.com/main.jsp?q=%BA%A1%C4%BF%20%B9%F6%BD%BA%C5%CD

Text Fwd: Severe pollution levels detected at 13 U.S. bases scheduled for return to S. Korea

* Image source/ caption*
As in the original article below

'PAJU -- Defense Ministry officials and members of environmental organizations examine samples taken from Camp Edwards in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on January 10, 2008.'

http://english.hani.co.kr/arti/english_edition/e_national/344760.html

Severe pollution levels detected at 13 U.S. bases scheduled for return to S. Korea
Lead levels far exceed the S. Korean standard, and the cleanup costs for S. Korea could reach into the trillions of won

PAJU -- Defense Ministry officials and members of environmental organizations examine samples taken from Camp Edwards in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, on January 10, 2008.

Severe pollution levels have been detected at 13 United States military bases nationwide scheduled to be returned to South Korea, with lead levels detected at more than 150 times the standard value at one U.S. firing range.

On Tuesday, The Hankyoreh obtained a copy of the results of pollution studies for 13 U.S. military bases scheduled for return to South Korea, showing that the lead levels of 15,200 parts per million detected at the Texas firing range in Paju, Gyeonggi Province, were more than 150 times the South Korean pollution cleanup standard of 100 parts per million. Copper levels were detected at 792 parts per million, 16 times the standard value of 50 parts per million. Zinc levels in the soil at the site of the Stanley highway expansion in Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, were detected at 1,137 parts per million, far in excess of the standard level of 300 parts per million.

In an area of 13,760㎡[square meter] of land scheduled for return at a Defense Reutilization and Marketing Office in Busan’s Busanjin-gu, more than one third of the total area of 34,925㎡[square meter], lead was detected at 1,293 parts per million (13 times the standard), mercury at 243 parts per million (60 times) and zinc at 1,275 parts per million (3 times). The total petroleum hydrocarbon value, which shows the state of petroleum-related pollution, at 18,923 parts per million, reached some 37 times the standard value of 500 parts per million. The area is scheduled for return to South Korea in 2010.

These data are the result of a study of environmental pollution at U.S. military bases conducted by the U.S. military and the South Korean government. The U.S. military and the government’s Ministry of the Environment jointly conducted pollution surveys at 41 U.S. bases in connection with the bases’ cleanup costs, and the government has until now refused to announce the pollution status at 13 of the “sites scheduled for return.”


Experts predict that pollution levels and cleanup costs will increase by a large margin when the bases are actually returned to South Korea. Indeed, in the case of 23 bases returned in 2007, the initial committee study showed cleanup costs of only 119.7 billion won (US$84.6 million), but a Defense Ministry project estimate in August 2008 put them at 190.7 billion won, and a detailed study in November had the figure increasing to 320 billion won.

“Not only are the environmental problems severe at the 13 undisclosed bases, pollutants continue to be discharged even now in cases like the Yongsan Garrison and Camp Long in Wonju,” said Green Korea United Manager Hwang Min-hyeok. “If discussions for the bases’ return continue without any revision to the Status of Forces Agreement, at a level that can be agreed upon mutually with regard to the treatment levels and procedures, we will end up bearing expenses in the trillions of won,” Hwang added.

Please direct questions or comments to [englishhani@hani.co.kr]