Category: US-ROK Alliance

Another good sign in the growing cooperation between the ROK and Japan:

South Korea’s top military officer was set to attend a trilateral meeting involving his U.S. and Japanese counterparts in Washington to discuss security cooperation in the face of North Korean nuclear and missile threats, officials said Wednesday.

Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Gen. Jin Yong-sung will meet with his U.S. and Japanese counterparts, Gen. Dan Caine and Gen. Hiroaki Uchikura, on Wednesday (local time) for a Trilateral Chiefs of Defense (Tri-Chod) meeting, according to the JCS.

Jin arrived in the United States on Tuesday, marking his first trip to the country since taking office in September.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

South Korea is apparently performing well at this year’s RIMPAC exercise:

This photo of Vice Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, is provided by the Pacific Fleet. (PHOTO NOT FOR SALE) (Yonhap)

A senior U.S. Pacific Fleet commander said Sunday he was “extremely pleased” with the South Korean Navy’s performance during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), praising Seoul’s expanded leadership role in the multinational drills.

Rear Adm. Kim In-ho is serving as RIMPAC’s combined maritime component commander, making South Korea the first Asian country and the fourth nation outside the United States to hold the post.

A senior U.S. Pacific Fleet commander said Sunday he was “extremely pleased” with the South Korean Navy’s performance during this year’s Rim of the Pacific Exercise (RIMPAC), praising Seoul’s expanded leadership role in the multinational drills.

Rear Adm. Kim In-ho is serving as RIMPAC’s combined maritime component commander, making South Korea the first Asian country and the fourth nation outside the United States to hold the post.

“We are very happy to partner with the Republic of Korea and Rear Adm. In-Ho Kim and his team. I am extremely pleased with their performance,” Vice Adm. Jeffrey Jablon, deputy commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet, said in a written response to Korean media.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Until the fantasy of pushing North Korea to denuclearize is put away, the North Koreans are not going to see any value in negotiations especially when the Russians are meeting all their current needs:

Cheong Wa Dae stated on the 17th (local time) that during the G7 (Group of Seven) summit in Évian, France, President Donald Trump expressed a strong commitment to playing a necessary role in advancing issues related to the Korean Peninsula. This followed President Lee Jae Myung’s request to President Trump to “lead the peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue.”

Cheong Wa Dae added that President Trump praised President Lee as a “strong leader” and expressed optimism that the two leaders could jointly contribute to peace and security in the Korean Peninsula region.

No bilateral South Korea-U.S. summit took place during this G7 summit. However, President Lee engaged in a roughly 30-second conversation with President Trump during the group photo session and sat next to him at the official dinner, exchanging discussions on various topics for over two hours.

During the group photo session, President Lee approached President Trump with an interpreter and said, “As you resolved the Middle East war, please lead the peaceful resolution of the North Korean issue.” President Trump reportedly responded, “I will strive to resolve the North Korean issue.”

Chosun Ilbo

You can read more at the link.

It will be interesting to see if the proposed transfer date will be during the Lee presidency or not? If it is then there is actually a chance of this happening. If not the next Korean president could just delay it again like past presidents have done:

The target year for South Korea regaining wartime operational control (OPCON) from the United States will be proposed to the presidents of both countries at the end of this year, Seoul’s defense chief said Sunday.

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back made the remarks in an interview with broadcaster KBS, as President Lee Jae Myung’s administration has sought to complete the transfer within Lee’s term, which ends in 2030.

“Discussions on the verification of full operational capability (FOC) will take place with the U.S. defense secretary at the Security Consultative Meeting in November and based on this, a proposal will be made to both presidents,” Ahn said. “Then, the year X for wartime OPCON recovery will be decided.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

Some more advanced weaponry may be coming to the ROK military:

The U.S. government has authorized a potential sale to South Korea of Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) precision bombs and related equipment, the State Department said Monday, noting the proposed sale will help enhance the Asian ally’s defense capabilities.

The department announced its decision on the potential government-to-government Foreign Military Sale (FMS) estimated to cost US$106 million. The proposed sale requires congressional notification and review.

South Korea has made a request to buy 708 KMU-557 JDAM tail kits, 58 KMU-572 JDAM guidance sets and other items, including weapons support equipment and U.S. government and contractor engineering, technical and logistics support services, according to the department.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

The criticism seems overblown, but this is typical Chinese behavior to intentionally overreact if they can cause tensions between the U.S. and an ally:

 South Korea has delivered its position to the United States over the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) commander’s recent controversial remarks that likened South Korea to a “dagger” in Asia, according to presidential officials Saturday.

In a recent podcast interview hosted by the U.S. Army War College, Brunson described South Korea as “the dagger in the heart of Asia,” prompting criticism from the Chinese Embassy in Seoul, which said the remarks “crossed the line.”

National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac, the defense ministry and the foreign ministry have delivered the country’s position over the remarks through respective diplomatic and security channels, according to Cheong Wa Dae.

Although a Cheong Wa Dae official declined to elaborate on the government’s position regarding Bruson’s remarks, security watchers say the message was likely that of regret. 

“(We) are aware of Commander Brunson’s recent public remarks, and there are communications between South Korea and the United States on various pending issues at various levels,” the official said.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but I would guess the ROK government’s response was something like that they know this criticism is stupid from the Chinese, but that they would appreciate it if the USFK commander could be more careful with his comments to avoid more stupid criticism in the future.

It seems Trump really loves South Korea when its companies are creating American jobs:

U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday that “I love South Korea,” despite his earlier show of displeasure over a lack of support by Seoul and other allies for the United States’ military operation against Iran.

Trump made the remarks during a press availability at the White House, soon after Seoul and Washington signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) to advance shipbuilding cooperation as part of last year’s bilateral trade and investment agreement.

“I love South Korea,” he said in response to a reporter’s question about his social media post on Monday that Iran fired at a South Korean-operated cargo ship in the Strait of Hormuz — a claim that Tehran has denied.

Yonhap

You can read more at the link.

It is all lies according to the ROK Defense Minister:

Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back on Wednesday denied recent media reports that the top commander of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) lodged a protest over the unification minister’s public disclosure of classified U.S. information about a hidden North Korean nuclear facility. 

Speaking before lawmakers at a parliamentary session, Ahn dismissed speculation that the U.S. is scaling back its intelligence-sharing with Seoul on North Korea in protest of the alleged leak. 

“That is not true at all,” Ahn said, responding to a question by Rep. Yoon Sang-hyun of the People Power Party. “It would be inappropriate in light of South Korea-U.S. military diplomacy for the USFK commander to have lodged protest with South Korea’s defense minister.”

Yonhap

You can read more at the link, but is anyone buying his claims?

Like many countries it appears Korea is trying to hedge between the U.S. and China instead of choosing sides:

The United States is ramping up pressure on Korea to stop using Chinese technologies and remove regulations deemed unfavorable to American companies, with a senior U.S. official saying Tuesday that Seoul has to make a choice in the face of adversaries undermining the alliance. 

In a prerecorded video at the American Chamber of Commerce in Korea’s (AMCHAM) annual Doing Business in Korea seminar in Seoul, Michael DeSombre, assistant secretary for East Asian and Pacific affairs at the U.S. Department of State, warned of China’s moves to drive a wedge between Korea and the U.S., calling the world’s second-largest economy “a regional adversary.”

“The Republic of Korea has a choice to make,” he said. “I am confident it will continue to choose trusted partners, transparent systems and technologies that respect privacy, security and the rule of law.”

Korea Times

You can read more at the link.