ROK, US to to deter North Korea

U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter answers reporters’ questions during a joint news conference following talks with his South Korean counterpart Han Min-koo at the Ministry of National Defense in Seoul, Monday. / Yonhap

By Jun Ji-hye

South Korea and the United States agreed Monday to enhance joint capabilities against North Korea’s nuclear threats and missiles.

The allies adopted implementation guidance on the “4D Operational Concept,” which is designed to detect, disrupt, destroy and defend against Pyongyang’s missile threats, containing nuclear, chemical and biological warheads.

They reached the agreement at a Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), their annual defense talks jointly headed by South Korean Defense Minister Han Min-koo and U.S. Defense Secretary Ash Carter.

The two countries also decided to establish a defense cooperation group to strengthen coordination in ROK-U.S. defense technology and strategy.

They also signed a condition-based transition of the South’s wartime operational control (OPCON) of its troops from the U.S. But they both noted that Washington’s possible deployment of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) on the Korea Peninsula was not on the agenda.

“The minister and secretary pledged to cooperate for the systematic implementation of the guidance,” according to a joint statement.

A ministry official noted on condition of anonymity that “disrupt and destroy” contains the connotation of the concept of preemptive strikes.

The two defense chiefs said they will not tolerate any aggression or military provocations by the North, apparently mindful of growing anticipation that the repressive state might conduct a fourth nuclear test or test-fire a long-range missile in the near future.

In May, the regime in Pyongyang test-fired a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM), escalating security concerns within the region.

During their talks, Minister Han reaffirmed that Seoul is seeking to develop its own Kill Chain preemptive strike and Korean Air and Missile Defense (KAMD) systems by the mid-2020s. Han said, “Those systems are critical military capabilities for responding to the North Korean nuclear and missile threat, as well as being interoperable with Alliance systems.”

While explaining their signing of the “Conditions-based OPCON Transition Plan,” the two ministers said they decided to implement the plan faithfully in order to ensure a stable wartime OPCON transition at a proper time.

“The reason why Republic of Korea needs more time is simply because the U.S. carried out the commanding control in ROK forces in the past,” Carter said at a joint news conference.

“It’s developing time to reach the point to fully discharge those important responsibilities.”

Han and Carter also decided to establish a strategic level Defense Technology Strategy and Cooperation Group, co-chaired by Ministry of National Defense, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Department of Defense, and the Department of State, with participation from other relevant agencies.

The ministry official said, “Vice ministerial-level officials are expected to lead the group.”

Carter said that the U.S. is “fully supportive” of Korea’s KF-X program, aimed at developing indigenous fighter jets by 2025 to replace the Air Force’s aging fleet of F-4 and F-5.

But Carter added that the group is not able to change U.S. laws, which limit the export of certain technologies, making it clear that Washington’s decision to disallow Lockheed Martin to hand over four core technologies to Korea is not a subject of discussion between the allies any more.

With regard to Japan’s possible military operations in the North Korea region, Carter said that Washington has important alliances with both Tokyo and Seoul, and both alliances are based on international laws that include full respect of the sovereignty of all nations.

“We believe any issues regarding a North Korean provocation can be handled in the context of our alliances,” he said.

The comment, however, is expected to cause controversy here because it was construed as Carter standing with Japan’s position that Tokyo could conduct military activities in the North without the prior consent from Seoul.

During a meeting of defense chiefs from Seoul and Tokyo last month, Han and Japanese Defense Minister Gen Nakatani showed differences about whether the North should be included in South Korean territory, because South Korea regards the isolated state as part of its territory to govern under its Constitution, while international law states that the two Koreas are separate nations.

At the time, Nakatani said his country will seek approval from countries in accordance with international law before sending its forces into their territories, indicating that Japanese forces could enter the North without agreement from Seoul.

Regarding the South China Sea dispute, the ongoing hot-button security issue in the Asia-Pacific region, Han and Carter both said that freedom of navigation is an important principle, and that the territorial dispute should be resolved peacefully.

Follow Jun Ji-hye on Twitter @TheKopJihye