US military commanders visit amid N. Korea threats

By Yi Whan-woo

Harry Harris

John Hyten

Two U.S. military commanders arrived in South Korea, Sunday, to discuss possible countermeasures against North Korea’s evolving nuclear and missile threats.

They will also inspect a military exercise between South Korea and the U.S., which will kick off Monday, according to the Ministry of National Defense.

U.S. Pacific Command chief Adm. Harry Harris and U.S. Strategic Command chief Gen. John Hyten attended new Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) Chairman Jeong Kyeong-doo’s inauguration ceremony in Yongsan-gu, Seoul.

They met with President Moon Jae-in and Defense Minister Song Young-moo as well as other top military officers here.

Their trips coincide with the Ulchi-Freedom Guardian (UFG) exercise between Seoul and Washington, which will begin Monday and run through Thursday.

The annual combined exercise will take place amid heightened tension on the Korean Peninsula following U.S. President Donald Trump’s belligerent rhetoric over Pyongyang and the latter’s threat to strike Guam in mid-August, although North Korean leader Kim Jong-un later backed down.

Harris and Hyten’s visits also take place on the heels of U.S. JCS head Gen. Joseph Dunford’s South Korea visit last week.

“It’s rare to see U.S. military officials visiting the country in a row,” a South Korean military source said. “Their trips reflect the serious nature of security on the Korean Peninsula, despite speculation on a slight ratcheting down of tensions after Pyongyang withdrew its plan to attack Guam for the time being.”

Harris, who is on a three-day visit, is scheduled to inspect UFG, a computerized command post exercise simulating how South Korea and the U.S. would defend against a possible invasion by the North.

The U.S. Pacific Command is responsible for deploying American military forces to the peninsula in the event of a war.

“It is unusual for the chief of the U.S. Pacific Command to inspect UFG. The inspection is believed to be in consideration of the latest security concerns in the region,” a South Korean military official said.

Some sources said Hyten will inspect UFG as well separately and check on the combined readiness posture of the two allies.

Headquartered at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Hyten’s U.S. Strategic Command controls military space operations, computer network operations, information operations, strategic warning and intelligence assessments, and global strategic planning.

“The deployment of U.S. strategic bombers including B-2s and B-52s in a show of force against North Korea is made under the approval of U.S. Strategic Command,” a source said.

This is the first time since June 2015 that U.S. Strategic Command chief will visit South Korea.