South Korea and the United States are discussing what will replace the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command when wartime military operational control is transferred to the former in 2015 as planned.
They also pointed out that a small body may be created for joint operations.
“Korea and the United States have discussed a variety of options to keep operational functions of the CFC alive even after it is disbanded following the transfer of control to Korea from the U.S.,” a ranking Korean government official said. “It is one of our options to establish a joint body with the operational department taken out from the CFC.”
The official said that the military authorities of the two countries are of same opinion that a new body will be needed to assume the function for joint operations even after the CFC is disbanded.
It is observed that the joint operational body may reflect the opinion of those who oppose the breakup of the CFC as it will perform a similar function. Some retired generals have strongly opposed the breakup on grounds that it might offer an excuse for a misjudgment by North Korea that they could attack the South.