Text Fwd: Release: Korcom-transformation-2009

* The source was informed in the site of the Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea


Click the below
Korcom-transformation-2009
Released Secret Document on the Current Situations of the USFK Force (2009~2020) and Re-Deployment Plan

Text Fw:S. Koreans begin legal battle to deter expansion of U.S. air base

* Image source: Pyeongtaek Peace Center 평택 평화 센터

Mr. Kang Sang-Won, Director of the Peyongtaek Peace Center (second from the right) is with the members of the Lawyers' Association for the Democratic Society etc. in front of Seoul Administrative Lawsuit court.

______________________________________________________________

* Text Fwd from Martin Frid on April 30, 2010

(Thanks, Martin Frid to make me pay attention to this! )

Yonhap News
S. Koreans begin legal battle to deter expansion of U.S. air base
By Kim Eun-jung

SEOUL, April 29 (Yonhap) -- A group of South Koreans filed an administrative suit Thursday against the Korean defense minister, demanding the cancellation of approval for the construction of a second runway at the U.S. air base in Osan, south of Seoul.

In the suit filed with the Seoul Administrative Court, the plaintiffs -- a group of 200 residents of Pyeongtaek who live near Osan Air Base -- accused the Korean government of approving the U.S. air base's runway expansion project without conducting an environmental impact assessment or consulting the local municipal authority or residents.

_______________________________________________________________
*Below is the arbitrary translation of the linked article.

* Image source: same as the below link

Pyeongtaek Peace Center

평택미공군기지 제2활주로건설 승인처분 무효소송
Administrative lawsuit on the cancellation of approval for the construction of a second runway at the U.S. air base in the Pyeongtaek US AFB

평택평화센터
Pyeongtaek Peace Center
2010•04•30 18:00
April 30, 2010

연합방위력증강사업승인처분 무효
For the cancellation of the approval on the CDIP(Combined Defense Improvement Project)

청 구 취 지
Purpose of the Demand for a trial

[이하의] 판결을 구합니다.
We seek for the judgments as the below that:

1. 피고가 2007년 평택 오산공군기지(K-55) 제2활주로 건설계획에 대하여 한 연합방위력증강사업 승인처분은 무효임을 확인한다.
1. It is to confirm that the defendant’s approval disposal of the CDIP regarding the construction plan of the 2nd runway in the Osan AFB (K-55), Pyeongteak, in 2007 is cancelled.

2. 소송비용은 피고가 부담한다.
2. The defendant (Ministry of the National Defense) pays the lawsuit cost.
________________________________________________________________ *Below is the arbitrary translation of the linked article..

* image source: same as the below link.

Pyeongteak Peace Center

주민들의 반발에도 멈추지 않는 활주로 공사
Runway construction that does not stop despite villagers’ repulsion

2010•04•22 09:38 April 22, 2010

2004년 미군기지확장계획으로 평택미공군기지(오산기지)인근에 64만평을 확장하였다.
특별한 사용목적이 없고 각종 안전거리를 위한 부지라며 국방부는 유보지로 분류되었고 그 이유로 환경영향평가도 받지않았다.

Following the US base expansion plan in 2004, [the USFK and Ministry of the National Defense, ROK] have expanded 640,000 pyeong [*about 1,920,000 square meters] near the Pyeongtaek US AFB (Osan base or K-55). The Minister of the National Defense classified it as the reserved area, saying it has no special purpose for use of it and the area is for the various safety distances, and has not taken any environmental impact evaluation for that reasons.

그러나 그 부지엔 활주로 예정부지에 설치되어있는 각종 시설(페트리어트미사일,발칸포,레이다등)을 옮기기위한 사전공사가 진행되고 있다.

However, prior construction to move the various facilities(Patriot missile, Vulcan and radar) that have been installed in the runway planned area is being processed.

주민들의 반발에도, 더군다나 법적조건도 구비하지 않고 공사를 강행하는 주한미군과 이를 방조하는 국방부에 더욱 분통이 쌓일 뿐이다.

We cannot but raise our indignation against the USFK who enforces the construction even without having the legal conditions and the Ministry of National Defense who aids and abets it, despite villagers’ repulsion.
________________________________________________________________

*Below is the arbitrary translation of the linked article.
Pyeongtaek Peace Center, posted on April 13, 2010

'[홍보활동]송탄미공군기지활주로 건설반대~
지난 10일 평택시민걷기대회가 열린 이충분수공원일대에서 불법적인 송탄미공군기지활주로건설을 반대한다는 현수막을 걸고 홍보활동을 벌였습니다.'

‘No Runway Construction in the Songtan US AFB’
The Pyeongtaek peace activists had the public relationship activities hanging the banner that they oppose illegal construction of the runway in the Songtan US AFB( Osan AFB) when there was the Pyeongtaek citizens’ walking sports meeting in Pyeongtaek.'

Text Fw: Guam references in appropriations request statement - Admiral Robert F. Willard

* Text informed by Martha Duenas through Famoksaiyan Friends (and thankfully reminded by Makiko Sato) on March 26, 2010. The color emphasis is by Martha Duenas.
________________________________________________________________

STATEMENT OF ADMIRAL ROBERT F. WILLARD,
U.S. NAVY COMMANDER U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND

BEFORE THE HOUSE APPROPRIATIONS COMMITTEE

SUBCOMMITTEE ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION

ON MILITARY CONSTRUCTION IN U.S. PACIFIC COMMAND

MARCH 24, 2010

FISCAL YEAR (FY) 11 MILCON [pdf page 3]

In FY11, USPACOM is postured to request funding for facilities and infrastructure to support U.S. military forces and their families. MILCON requested by the services in the Pacific AOR is categorized into four broad areas: Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI), Republic of Korea (ROK) Transformation, Grow-the-Force, and Sustainment.

DEFENSE POLICY REVIEW INITIATIVE

Rapid response in the Asia-Pacific region hinges on flexibility, speed and forward basing of our military forces. On May 1, 2006, the U.S. Secretaries of State and Defense and their Japanese counterparts released the Roadmap for Realignment, which outlines the overall implementation for the relocation of U.S. forces in Japan. The importance of the Roadmap was reaffirmed in February 2009 in a second agreement signed by Secretary of State Clinton and her Government of Japan counterpart. Moreover, the Defense Policy Review Initiative (DPRI) agreed to with Japan will sustain the capacity of our forward ground forces while addressing the burden-sharing concerns of our Japanese hosts. The majority of DPRI actions remain on track and Japan is shouldering most of the planned facility construction costs associated with the agreed changes. The exception is the Futenma Replacement Facility (FRF). The newly elected Japanese government is presently reviewing the plan to relocate Marine Corps Air Station Futenma to another location on Okinawa. We are optimistic that the Government of Japan will fully reaffirm the 2006 GoJ-U.S. agreement by May 2010. The relocation of MCAS Futenma, which affirms the continued presence of Marine Corps airlift capability on Okinawa, is the critical element enabling the relocation of 8,000 Marines to Guam. Per the agreement, U.S. MILCON funds will contribute to the costs for facility and infrastructure construction on Guam to support the relocating Marines and their dependents.

Guam: As do the Okinawa-based Marines, Guam-based forces offer the strategic flexibility and response needed for the U.S. to be postured for contingencies in the Asia-Pacific. MILCON funding is in turn a vital enabler for the timely relocation of Marines to Guam. FY11 funding continues our contribution to the 2006 Realignment Roadmap estimated facilities and infrastructure cost on Guam of $10.3 billion. Under the agreement, Japan will provide $6.1 billion of the funding with the U.S. providing the remaining funding. Japan committed its first increment of funds by appropriating $336 million in May 2009. We are hopeful their second increment of funding, expected in 2010, will further demonstrate their commitment to the effort. In our request, FY11 MILCON funding totaling $427 million will provide utilities and airfield ramp space to bed-down Marine aviation at Andersen AFB and wharf improvements at Apra Harbor. Additional investments will be needed to improve off-base Guam infrastructure, such as roads and bridges critical to the successful throughput of materials to the planned Marine Corps installation.

REPUBLIC OF KOREA (ROK) TRANSFORMATION [pdf page 4]

We continue to work with the Republic of Korea to realign and enhance U.S. force posture to ensure an effective and sustainable long-term presence on the Korean Peninsula which underlies our steadfast commitment to the defense of the ROK. Although the ROK is providing much of the funding for the planned changes, MILCON funds are needed for some facility construction and infrastructure.

The United States will develop a more capable and responsive U.S. and combined force posture in the ROK to strengthen the alliance’s deterrent and defense capabilities and long-term capacity for regional and global defense cooperation. Projects for the Land Partnership Plan and the Yongsan Relocation Plan include relocating U.S. troops out of downtown Seoul, returning the majority of Yongsan Army Garrison to the ROK, and consolidating our troops into two primary hubs south of Seoul. This effort sustains a strong U.S. combat presence on the Peninsula, while lessening the intrusiveness of our force presence in major urban centers like Seoul. We anticipate the ROK continuing to fund much of the facilities and infrastructure construction for this USFK realignment. For FY11, ROK Transformation includes the relocation of an Air Force heavy engineer construction unit to Guam. Eight million is requested to construct a headquarters facility at Andersen AFB for this engineer unit.

...

SUSTAINMENT MILCON – QUALITY OF LIFE [pdf page 8]

Quality of Life for our activity duty Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines and their dependents continues to be a key enabler and retention factor for these Americans serving overseas often thousands of miles and many time zones away from family and loved ones. FY11, $644 million of requested Quality of Life MILCON will ensure we provide adequate housing, medical facilities, and recreation opportunities to these men, women and their families. MARFORPAC requests $30 million to replace an undersized and outdated fitness center at Camp H.M. Smith Hawaii. US Forces Korea seeks $20 million to upgrade utility systems at Camp Walker.

Bachelor Housing: In FY11, USPACOM requests $346 million for six barracks projects. PACAF plans to construct a student barracks worth $12 million at the Pacific Regional Training Center at Andersen AFB Guam. USARPAC seeks $216 million in Hawaii to renovate and construct barracks at Schofield Barracks and Tripler Army Medical Center. Naval Station San Diego California requests $75 million to construct junior enlisted quarters. Finally, MARFORPAC requires $43 million for bachelor enlisted quarters at Camp Pendleton.

...

Medical: $70 million is required in Guam to support the second increment of replacement of the outdated 1950s era hospital. When complete the hospital will provide modern state of the art medical services for activity duty members and dependents including the planned additional Marine personnel. Camp Carroll in Korea requires $20 million to provide a consolidated health-dental clinic.

http://appropriations.house.gov/Witness_testimony/MC/Robert_Willard.3.24.10.pdf

Subcommittee on Military Construction, Veterans Affairs, and Related Agencies

3/24/10

Hearing- Pacific Command
10:00 AM, H143, The Capitol

- Admiral Robert F. Willard, U.S. Navy, Commander, U.S. Pacific Command(Testimony)
- General Walter “Skip” Sharp, Commander, Republic of Korea-United States Combined Forces Command, and Commander, United States Forces Korea(Testimony)

http://appropriations.house.gov/Subcommittees/sub_mivet.shtml

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

House Armed Services Committee

Ike Skelton, Chairman http://armedservices.house.gov

For Immediate Release: March 25, 2010 Contact: Lara Battles or Jennifer Kohl

202-225-2539

Opening Statement of Chairman Ike Skelton

Hearing on the FY 2011 Budget Requests from U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea

Washington, D.C. – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-Mo.) delivered the following opening statement during today’s hearing on the Fiscal Year 2011 budget requests from U.S. Pacific Command and U.S. Forces Korea:

“Today the committee will continue its posture hearings with Admiral Robert Willard, Commander of the U.S. Pacific Command and General “Skip” Sharp, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea. At the outset, I want to welcome you both back to the committee, and thank you for your excellent leadership. I also want to thank the troops that you lead, along with their families, for their incredible service and personal sacrifice.

“There is an ever present danger that we in Washington are so focused on Afghanistan, Pakistan, and Iraq that security challenges elsewhere in the world will not get the attention they merit. More concretely, as a result of the last nine years of operations, the readiness posture of all the combatant commands outside the Middle East has suffered, creating heightened strategic risk. There are clear examples of these problems in the Asia-Pacific, and I believe that we ignore them at our peril.

“Let me review just a few of the daunting challenges ahead in the Asia-Pacific. The rebasing of U.S. Marines from Japan to Guam is one of the largest movements of military assets in decades, estimated to cost over ten billion dollars. The changes being planned as part of that move will not only affect our bilateral relationship with Japan; they will shape our strategic posture throughout the critical Asia-Pacific region for 50 years or more.

“Yet the path forward remains unclear. Japan is reassessing the agreement to move troops from Okinawa to Guam. It does not appear that the budget includes sufficient funds to accomplish the agreement -- and the Environmental Protection Agency has identified problems with the rebasing plan’s environmental impacts. We must get this right, and I assure you that this committee will work to ensure that we do.

“Last year North Korea launched a Taepo-Dong-2 missile over Japan; conducted a second nuclear test; kicked out inspectors; pulled out of the Six Party Talks; and restarted its nuclear facilities. All of this occurred in the context of an uncertain leadership and succession environment that may have fed some of these very concerning events.

“At the same time, our presence in South Korea is transforming. We are undertaking tour normalizations in Korea and substantially relocating our forces, an effort we will hear today has now been postponed for several years. There are also questions about how the new U.S.-South Korea command relationship, starting in 2012, will work. I am most interested in an update on these issues during today’s discussion.

“Never to be forgotten in this region, of course, is China. China recently suspended high-level military and other contacts with the U.S. in response to a U.S. arms sale to Taiwan. While China’s announced defense budget increase for this year is less than it has been in the past, their budget is still growing rapidly and the linkage between their stated strategic intentions and their actions remains unclear in certain areas. China conducted an unexpected mid-course missile interception test earlier this year- and reports of cyber-attacks from China against Google and other large U.S. companies continue to be troubling.

“We must be proactively engaged in the Asia-Pacific region on multiple fronts, and realize that our own actions may well influence the choices and actions of others. We must be able to pursue opportunities for security cooperation with regional allies and partners. At the same time, we must ensure that our force posture allows us to deter or to confront any security challenge that might emerge in this part of the world. We have difficult work to do to get there. I am pleased that the Department of Defense and Obama administration have already taken a number of positive steps in this direction and I hope to see more as we move forward.

“I now turn to my able Ranking Member, Buck McKeon, for any statement he may wish to make.”

[Translation Fwd] 2010 SK-US Key Resolve Military Exercise would be March 8 to 18

* Image source: Tongil News, Cho Sung-Bong, March 14, 2009
'Activists protest against the Key Resolve war drill last year'

Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea
Click the link above for more photos and images.
The site was for last year so there could be change this year.
For example, it was known that the aircraft carrier would not join the war drill this year,
not to provoke the North Korea.

Click the image for larger view

Image source: Solidarity for Peace And Reunification of Korea
(translation added by No Base Stories of Korea)

Click the link above for more photos and images.
The site was for last year so there could be change this year.
For example, it was known that the aircraft carrier would not join the war drill this year,
not to provoke the North Korea.

_______________________________________________________________________________________

* Below is the arbitrary translation of the article below.


Tongil News
SK-US Key Resolve Military Exercise would be 8 to 18, Next Month:
US-SK Combined Forces Command Announces to the DPRK military Panmunjeom representative committee
Feb. 17, Wednesday, 2010
Lee Gwang-Gil(gklee68 (at) tongilnews.com)

Walter Sharp, Commander of the [US-SK] Combined Forces Command announced in the afternoon of Feb. 17 that the command would conduct the annual Key Resolve and Foal Eagle 2010 (KR/FE 2010) exercises from coming March 8 to 18.

Through the press release, the commander announced its exercise purpose was “to improve the CFC ability of the defense for the South Korea.” It was known that total 18,000 U.S. soldiers, including the 10,000 USFK and 8,000 augmented forces, would join [the exercise]. The numbers of the augmented forces which were 13,000 last year were rather decreased.

He announced that the main point of the military exercise this year was specially to cultivate the abilities of the judgment & determination by the high commanders. In fact, the United States has been known that she would create the KORCOM (Korea Command) within this year, as she returns back the Operational Control right [to the ROK military] in 2012.

The Command also told that the Military Armistice Commission (MAC), United Nations Command had already noticed the exercise schedule to the DPRK military Panmunjeom representative committee. It also added that part of the military exercise would be open to press.

Due to the exercise, the possibility for the NK-US and SK-NK talks, including the six-party talks which has been stalemate even now, became remarkably row.

Text fwd: 3-Star General May Head USFK

Korea Times
3-Star General May Head USFK
By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

A three-star general is likely to assume command of the U.S. Force Korea (USFK) after the planned command rearrangements designed to shift the roles of American forces here to naval- and air-centric supporting ones are completed, sources said Monday.

Currently, a four-star Army general is in charge of the 28,500-slot USFK. The USFK commander also serves as chief of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and the U.N. Command (UNC).

But the four-star general will move to the U.S. Army Pacific (USARPAC) in Hawaii by 2012 when South Korea takes back wartime operational control (OPCON) of its forces from the USFK, as part of a realignment of U.S. forces in Asia and the Pacific, they said. The general then would likely take charge of all U.S. Army forces in the Asia-Pacific region.

“South Korea wants a four-star general to take command of the USFK even after the OPCON transition in 2012 as it is not only of U.S. strategic importance on the peninsula but also deals with a stronger ROK-U.S. alliance,” an American military source here told The Korea Times.

“The U.S. is positive about it but still is considering various options, including moving the four-star general from Seoul to Honolulu, in consideration of the post OPCON-transition command structure.”

An official for Seoul’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said the USFK has not given its official position on whether or not a new U.S. military command, or Korea Command (KORCOM), to be established by 2012 will keep a four-star general intact, declining to elaborate.

USFK officials here denied the move.

“KORCOM will have a four-star commander even after the 2012 transition,” a USFK official said on condition of anonymity.

He said a recent decision to keep the three-star-level 8th U.S. Army in South Korea also proves the higher USFK commander will retain his four-star position.

The South Korean and U.S. militaries have been on track to make the change from the decades-old U.S.-led combined forces mechanism to a South Korean-led joint command system following a 2007 deal. Under the envisaged system, both sides will launch separate theater commands in 2012 after deactivating the CFC.

South Korean forces will take the lead of key combat missions while the U.S. military will focus on a naval- and air-centric supporting role. Instead, the U.S. forces in Korea will be transformed into rapid deployment troops that can be dispatched to other parts of the world where the U.S. faces hostilities.

Earlier, a Hawaii-based daily newspaper, The Honolulu Advertiser, reported the change in the USFK’s commander status.

“Sometime in 2012, or shortly thereafter, an American sergeant major in Seoul will haul down the flag of the four-star general who commands U.S. forces in South Korea,” the newspaper said Jan. 10.

Shifting a top general from South Korea will be among the final actions in a long, slow decline of the American engagement in Korea, it said, quoting senior U.S. military officers.

The newspaper revealed the USFK troop strength has recently downed to 24,700.

“Senior U.S. officers have told the South Koreans they must be responsible for their own defense against communist North Korea, and the departure of the top U.S. general reflects that,” it said.

The four-star general in charge of the USARPAC will work with the four-star officers commanding Navy and Air Force components of the Pacific Command, the report said.

In addition, Pacific Command will have a top Army officer to deal with other armies in Asia and the Pacific.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

Text Fwd: 8th US Army to Remain in Korea

* Image source: same as the article below

Korea Times
11-06-2009 18:04
8th US Army to Remain in Korea
By Jung Sung-ki, Staff Reporter

The Eighth U.S. Army (EUSA) will remain in South Korea even after Korean commanders take over wartime operational control (OPCON) of its forces from the U.S. military in 2012, the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) announced Friday.

The United States will inaugurate a new theater command — Korea Command (KORCOM) — but the date of establishment has not been set, it said in a press release.

The confirmation came after it was reported that KORCOM will be set up next June to replace the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) in line with the 2012 OPCON transition.

"As part of OPCON transition, the U.S. military will establish a new headquarters currently called Korea Command for planning purposes," the USFK said. "The date for the establishment of KORCOM has not been set. KORCOM will be a sub-unified command and have the same relationship to Pacific Command (in Hawaii) that USFK has now."

It said EUSA's transformation, to include planned moves to the Pyeongtaek area, "confirms the United States' commitment to a strong ROK-U.S. alliance and the defense of the Korean people."

Whether or not to relocate the EUSA headquarters in Seoul to other regions, such as Hawaii where the Pacific Command is located, has been controversial because of the command's symbolic status on the Korean Peninsula.

Established in 1944 in Memphis, Tenn., EUSA became the spearhead for the United Nations Command (UNC) to halt aggression by North Korea during the 1950-53 Korean War, and ultimately assumed overall responsibility for conducting ground operations on the peninsula under the command of a four-star American general.

But the army command's roles and missions have been significantly reduced since the establishment of the CFC, which takes charge of wartime operations on the peninsula, in 1978.

Since then, a three-star general has taken charge of EUSA, while the CFC has been headed by a four-star general, who concurrently serves as chief of the UNC and U.S. Forces Korea (USFK).

Currently, EUSA's missions are limited to administrative or personnel affairs. The 150-strong command is in charge of providing forces to the CFC commander and undertaking combat support operations, such as reception, staging, onward movement and integration missions, in the event of an emergency.

Earlier this year, CFC Commander Gen. Walter Sharp reportedly said he had suggested to his superiors at the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Command that the EUSA stay in South Korea even after the 2012 transition at the request of South Korean military leaders, who fear such a move would trigger a sense of insecurity among Korean citizens.

After several years of negotiations, Seoul and Washington agreed in 2007 that Seoul would execute independent operational control of its armed forces during wartime beginning April 17, 2012. The U.S. military would primarily provide naval and air support.

The two sides agreed to disband the CFC and run separate theater commands. A South Korean-U.S. "military cooperation center," a body for combat operations, will be set up to help facilitate joint operations.

The center will comprise about 10 standing and non-standing organizations.

But South Korean conservative groups regard the command changes as a U.S. move to reduce its security commitment to South Korea.

They argue the smaller role of the USFK amid lingering threats posed by Pyongyang could tip the military balance on the peninsula.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr

*Related article

Korea Herald (* Text informed by Kyle Kajihiro (kkajihiro@afsc.org)
U.S. Army headquarters to stay
By Song Sang-ho
2009.11.07