Repeated Calls for Strengthening ROK-US Joint Military Exercises in the United States

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] As North Korea announced plans to redeploy military units in the Kaesong Industrial Complex and the Mount Kumgang tourism zone, voices in the U.S. political and military circles are growing louder, demanding strengthened South Korea-U.S. joint military exercises and the resumption of strategic asset deployments as part of military pressure on North Korea. The South Korean military is also expected to establish plans for joint exercises with the U.S. within this month, drawing attention to whether the joint exercises scheduled for the second half of the year will be significantly enhanced.

According to military officials on the 18th, the Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff plan to internally formulate joint exercise plans after holding meetings this month on the transfer of wartime operational control and evaluations of comprehensive development tasks for nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response. With inter-Korean relations effectively collapsing and the risk of military conflict increasing, there is a possibility that measures to expand not only the exercise methods but also the scale of the exercises will be coordinated.

Members of the U.S. Congress and former security and military officials have already advocated for strengthening South Korea-U.S. joint exercises. Republican Representative Ted Yoho, ranking member of the Asia-Pacific Subcommittee of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, proposed military pressure and enforcement of sanctions against North Korea during a virtual seminar hosted by the Association of Former Members of Congress on the 17th (local time). When asked about the U.S. response, Yoho said, "It is a problem between the North and South," but added, "We probably need to restart military efforts and campaigns with South Korea." This is interpreted as a call for military pressure, including joint exercises.

Vincent Brooks, former commander of U.S. Forces Korea, suggested deploying strategic assets to the Korean Peninsula, which have been suspended since spring 2018, during a virtual seminar hosted by the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS). He specifically mentioned nuclear-capable bombers, F-35 fighters, aircraft carriers, and nuclear submarines as means. He also stated that if he were the commander of U.S. Forces Korea, he would "indicate that this is a good time to carry out exercises," emphasizing the need to resume South Korea-U.S. joint exercises. Given his reference to exercises planned for this summer, it appears he was referring to the joint exercises typically held in August.

Herbert McMaster, former U.S. National Security Advisor, also mentioned South Korea-U.S. joint exercises during a seminar hosted by the Hudson Institute think tank, stating, "We must demonstrate militarily the capability to effectively respond to North Korea's threats." He emphasized, "There are exercises scheduled for August. I think they should be robust exercises."

South Korea and the U.S. abolished large-scale joint exercises such as 'Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG),' 'Key Resolve,' and 'Foal Eagle' to facilitate North Korea-U.S. denuclearization negotiations. Instead, they conducted scaled-down alternative exercises, including 'Allies 19-1' in the first half of the year and 'Combined Command Post Exercises' in the second half.

The Ministry of National Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff plan to internally establish joint exercise plans this month after holding meetings on the transfer of wartime operational control and evaluations of comprehensive development tasks for nuclear and weapons of mass destruction (WMD) response.

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