General Bell Comments on Future of USFK to Congress

Here are some interesting comments that new USFK commander General B.B. Bell made during a recent US Senate hearing concerning the status of USFK:

Noting that Seoul is seeking to regain wartime control of its military forces, the U.S. general forecast that if that happened, U.S. forces here would play what he called a “supporting role” in defending South Korea. He said he believed the South Korean military was capable of taking on an independent combat command and said, “In the future, to support the Republic of Korea where our ally is exercising independent combat command, I envision U.S. military contributions to the alliance to be air- and naval-centric.”

Washington and Seoul recently reached an agreement on “strategic flexibility” of U.S. forces stationed on the Korean peninsula – envisioning their use elsewhere in the region – and the comments could suggest further cuts in U.S. Army forces here, with Korea’s ground forces carrying the burden of land combat.

In other words US ground forces are needed else where and cutting troops in Korea lessens the US footprint on the peninsula while simultaneously freeing up troops for the Global War on Terror.

Asked by a senator whether any thought had been given to shifting more responsibility to the international community in defending South Korea, General Bell said that in addition to the bilateral U.S.-Korea security treaty, the United Nations Command here could be a basis for a larger role for other nations. In theory, he said, the UN Command’s purpose was to prepare the 15 nations represented in the command to recommit their troops if necessary.

“While I can’t speak for all those nations, certainly in terms of what they might or might not commit, what I can inform you of is that the framework to discuss a potential broader commitment is resonant, and that could certainly be undertaken,” he said.

This is something I always find interesting about Korea. You have elements of Korean society and the media eager to condemn the US and USFK and then tout praises for countries like France. Yet when push comes to shove on the Korean peninsula and North Korea provokes a second Korean War does anyone think that countries like France, Germany, Belgium, etc. will lift a finger to defend South Korea?

No matter how estranged relations are between the US and South Korea, the US will defend South Korea in some capacity if attacked. Who else can Korea count on to help defend them if attacked? If a second Korean War broke out possibly England and Australia would commit troops and ironically maybe even Korea’s region rival Japan would assist in some capacity. Europe on the hand, can not even be counted on to conduct peacekeeping operations in Africa, why would anyone expect them to help defend Korea?

You can read more here and here.