[Yang Nak-gyu's Defense Club] US-ROK Joint Military Exercise Likely to Be Scaled Down Rather Than Postponed

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] The South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises scheduled for March are expected to be significantly scaled down due to the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Since mid-February, training such as the Combat Staff Training and Battle Simulation Center (BSC) personnel collective education has been underway, and the Crisis Management Staff Training (CMST) is also being conducted, indicating that cancellation is unlikely.

On the 24th (local time), at a press conference following a meeting with South Korean Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo at the Pentagon in Washington DC, Secretary Esper was asked whether the joint exercises would be canceled due to the spread of COVID-19. He said, "General Robert Abrams, Commander of U.S. Forces Korea, and General Park Han-gi, Chairman of the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, are considering scaling down the joint command post exercises due to concerns about the coronavirus."

The South Korea-U.S. joint exercises, scheduled to run for 10 days starting early March this year, will proceed from the Crisis Management Staff Training (CMST), which serves as a 'reserve' for the main exercise, to the Combined Command Post Training (CCPT). CCPT refers to a 'war game' conducted through computer simulations without actual troop or equipment mobilization. The names of the exercises have also been changed. Since the second half of last year, the Crisis Management Exercise (CMX) has been renamed CMST, and the Combined Command Post Exercise (CPX) has been renamed CCPT. The term 'alliance' has also been removed. This is intended to avoid provocative names, mindful of North Korea's strong criticism linking the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises with North Korea-U.S. denuclearization working-level talks.

This year's '20-1' joint exercises have significantly reduced the number of participating troops and duration, similar to last year. Typically, joint exercises proceed according to an operational plan in the order of crisis creation (CMST) → local provocation → war initiation → troop reinforcement → counterattack operations → conclusion. Since CMST plays a role in setting the situation before the main training phase, it is not included in the official joint exercise schedule. Therefore, broadly, the exercises have been conducted over two weeks divided into Part 1 (defense) and Part 2 (counterattack). However, this year, the counterattack operation scenario has been removed, reducing the training period to 10 days.

Through these exercises, South Korea and the U.S. will verify the transfer of wartime operational control. This year, they plan to supplement the deficiencies found in last year's verification of the Initial Operational Capability (IOC) of the future Combined Forces Command. Later in the year, the Full Operational Capability (FOC) verification will be pursued during joint exercises. Afterward, the Full Mission Capability (FMC) verification process will be conducted before the final transfer. Since the government aims to reclaim wartime operational control 'within the term,' Minister Jeong is expected to emphasize alliance-level cooperation when meeting Secretary Esper this time.

Meanwhile, the South Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff, currently leading the joint exercises, has strictly controlled access to personnel other than staff since the day before. The Ministry of National Defense has also suspended all outdoor training nationwide as the COVID-19 crisis alert level was raised to 'severe.' The U.S. Forces Korea raised the risk level for troops and facilities from 'medium' to 'high' after a 61-year-old U.S. military family member at the Daegu base was confirmed positive. Restrictions on business trips and visits to the U.S. military base in Daegu have been implemented. The Daegu U.S. military base is virtually in a 'quasi-closed' state. Military officials say it is clear that neither the South Korean military nor U.S. Forces Korea can conduct the joint exercises normally under these circumstances.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.