Former Commander Brooks: "Strategic Asset Deployment and Resumption of ROK-US Joint Exercises Needed"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Vincent Brooks, former commander of the United States Forces Korea, stated on the 17th (local time) that there is a need to apply military pressure on North Korea, advocating for the deployment of strategic assets and the resumption of South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises. He expressed the opinion that pressure on North Korea should be intensified to prevent further miscalculations.

At an online seminar hosted by the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) on the same day, former commander Brooks said that if he were the commander of the United States Forces Korea, "we would pursue ways to increase pressure (on North Korea) through military means."

Brooks also emphasized the necessity of resuming South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises, stating that if he were the commander of the United States Forces Korea, "I would present that this is a good time to carry out the exercises. These exercises would no longer be a matter for discussion with North Korea or subject to their influence."

However, he added, "All of these actions would create military pressure, but they must be combined with regaining the momentum for diplomatic engagement, whether between the two Koreas or between North Korea and the U.S." He advised that South Korea and the U.S. should respond firmly to North Korea’s changes to enhance their negotiating power.

Regarding responses to North Korea’s demolition of the Kaesong Inter-Korean Joint Liaison Office and warnings of military provocations in Kaesong, he recalled that many exercises were conducted between 2016 and 2018. He said, "This is akin to announcing the lifting of the suspension on the deployment of strategic assets on the Korean Peninsula," listing nuclear-capable bombers, F-35 fighters, aircraft carriers, and nuclear submarines.

He noted that such measures have not occurred since spring 2018 and emphasized that these means would unsettle North Korea, making them feel they may have crossed a line.

Brooks stressed that "North Korea has a motive to induce division between South Korea and the U.S.," and maintaining close contact between security officials of both countries should be the first priority, highlighting the importance of close South Korea-U.S. cooperation.

While emphasizing the critical role of China due to its influence on the North Korean economy, Brooks strongly asserted that South Korea should prioritize the U.S. over China.

He mentioned that during his command, South Korea often said, "The U.S. has many allies, but South Korea has only one," emphasizing, "That is the U.S., not China."

Commander Brooks also noted that North Korea’s recent offensive is not directed at the U.S., implying that North Korea-U.S. dialogue remains open. He did not rule out the possibility that North Korea and the U.S. could reach conditions to declare a cessation of hostile acts on a specific anniversary.

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