US and ROK Defense Secretaries Sign New OPCON Transfer Agreement

So does anyone really think a ROK general is really going to command US forces during a conflict?:

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo, left, and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis hold up the Alliance Guiding Principles they signed at the Pentagon on Wednesday. [MINISTRY OF NATIONAL DEFENSE]
Seoul and Washington signed a strategic guideline on Wednesday that paves the way for a Korean-led combined defense mechanism after the transfer of wartime operational control (Opcon) from the United States.

South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and U.S. Defense Secretary James Mattis convened the 50th Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the Pentagon and signed the Alliance Guiding Principles to ensure a strong combined defense posture following the transfer.

The mutual guideline guarantees the continued stationing of U.S. troops in Korea and the retaining of the Combined Forces Command (CFC) and the United Nations Command after the transfer of Opcon from Washington to Seoul. It places a four-star Korean general as the head of the future CFC, with a U.S. general serving as deputy commander.

Washington further committed to a continued extension to Korea of its nuclear, conventional and missile defense deterrence capacities even after the transfer. This should quell some concerns in Seoul that the transfer of Opcon could lead to the withdrawal of some 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in Korea or the pulling back of American extended deterrence over the peninsula.

The two sides will work toward an initial operational capability (IOC) certification of a Korea-led combined defense posture next year. However, the specific timing of the Opcon transition will be determined later.  [Joong Ang Ilbo]

You can read more at the link, but this to me seems to be more of creating the impression to the Washington establishment that the Moon administration wants US forces to stay in Korea while using their surrogates to make life difficult for them.  Look no further then the current THAAD site in South Korea.

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Flyingsword
Flyingsword
5 years ago

This all started when comrade No came to power. Dream of the commies to use it as a wedge in the alliance. Commie moon continuing the work . Of course commie moon is counting on changing the Korean constitution so he can stay a second, third….forever term to see the dreams of nK realized.

Ole Tanker
Ole Tanker
5 years ago

Mattis has a yellow tie, go ARMOR, we don’t need no light Infantry!

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

Since the Korean has a red tie, does that imply artillery?

J6Junkie
J6Junkie
5 years ago

Silly Set. It implies Commie stooge!

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

J6, and when Trump wears a red tie?

J6Junkie
J6Junkie
5 years ago

Setnaffa:
Grand Ole Party.

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

Yeah, I think there’s less to it than all that; but I’ll bow to your sartorial predictions… Last suit I bought was in 1998 from GG Kang’s shop down by the Hamilton Hotel bus stop… 😎

RockMarne
RockMarne
5 years ago

What would have happened if Ash Carter & Obama agreed to a plan like this?

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

We’ll never know. Barry never could have gotten KJU to negotiate peace, return hostages, return remains, or stop the missile launches and nuke testing. Without those prerequisites, South Korea would not have been bold enough to agree to this. They wouldn’t have wanted the responsibility for an accident.

RockMarne
RockMarne
5 years ago

The right wingnuts would have attacked Obama for signing off on a plan to put US troops under the command of a foreign officer.

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

Rocktroll, you’re missing the point entirely–as US troops served under NATO commanders in numerous deployments. The agreement required Trump negotiating successfully with the norks so the RoK felt confident enough to take a chance.

I seriously doubt that you’re an American GI or ever met a Korean.

RockMarne
RockMarne
5 years ago

Wrong on both counts. I have more time in the chow line than you have in uniform, ‘cruit. Again the right wing-nuts would have been attacking Obama for agreeing to put US troops under the command of a CFC commander who is a foreigner.

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

Yeah, you sound more you have a preoccupation with failed leaders, a bitter clinging to “facts” that never were, and a joyless drive to argue politics in the wrong venue. As if that wasn’t enough, no one here likes racists.

If you really were in Korea, chow line dweller, tell us about the things you enjoyed in Korea. Shared experiences build community. Arguing about hypothetical situations is a “divide and conquer” tactic often used by racists.

If you want to sit in your own poo denying there were “foreign commanders” of US troops in Iraq, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Kosovo, you’ll need to redefine “foreigner” to exclude most of our allies and coalition partners. And I guarantee you can find examples in WW1 and WW2 as well.

The folks here don’t really care about how much time you spend waiting to eat at Luby’s, either. Nearly everyone here has more time in uniform than me. And that plus $5 can get you a nice Americano at Starbucks. Or the nice little coffee shop in the Pickens Tower at MD Anderson (the one with the good danish).

RockMarne
RockMarne
5 years ago

Setnaffa you need to get out of your mommies basement. Stop hiding out down there clinging to your gun in one hand and to your you-know-what in your other hand. And don’t try telling me, or your mommie, you have your religion in your other hand. We both know better….

setnaffa
setnaffa
5 years ago

It’s really interesting that Rocktroll’s fallback position is always some dank and tenebrous fantasy about those who confront him with facts. It really shows what a sad life some folks have. He accuses others of living with their parents, so he probably does. He accuses others of perversion, so,… well, we’ll let that go.

I’ve had a rough life over the last couple years; but I doubt that I’d run out of meaningful words that rapidly, unless I’d taken up some sort of bad drugs or Genesee Beer.

I’m really not certain he has the wit to engage anymore. I apologize for feeding the troll. I will endeavor not to repeat my mistake.

RockMarne
RockMarne
5 years ago

Wit? Setnaffa, in a battle of wits with me, you are like an unarmed man in an Al Anbar Province firefight. With respect to your short time in service, I figured you for a chapter case. You certainly would not have lasted long in any of my units.

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