Jung Kyung-doo: "Respect for UN Command Continues After Transfer of Wartime Operational Control"

Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and other Cabinet members are performing the national ceremony at the Cabinet meeting held via video conference between the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul, and the Sejong Office on the 19th. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu Reporter] Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-du stated to Robert Abrams, Commander of the United Nations Command (also Commander of United States Forces Korea), that "even after the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), the role and functions of the United Nations Command will continue to be respected."

According to the Ministry of National Defense on the 24th, Minister Jeong, in a congratulatory letter sent to Commander Abrams on the occasion of the 70th anniversary of the establishment of the United Nations Command (UNC), said, "We will develop the relationship between the Republic of Korea Joint Chiefs of Staff, the United Nations Command, the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, and the United States Forces Korea in the spirit of mutual cooperation and respect," and emphasized, "The UNC will maintain the armistice regime stably in close coordination with the Korean military."

Minister Jeong said, "I sincerely congratulate the United Nations Command, the 'Guardian of the Korean Peninsula Armistice Regime,' on its 70th anniversary," and added, "On behalf of the government and military, I express gratitude to the veterans from 22 countries who devoted themselves to protecting the freedom and peace of the Republic of Korea 70 years ago." He continued, "The United Nations Command decisively contributed to the victory in the Korean War and successfully carried out missions such as the implementation and compliance of the armistice agreement after the war," adding, "It has greatly contributed to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula and the development of the Republic of Korea."

Last year, the ROK-US military authorities reportedly engaged in a tense dispute over the authority of the United Nations Command during the verification exercise of the OPCON transfer in the 'second half combined command post exercise.' Lieutenant General Choi Byung-hyuk, Deputy Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, took the role of commander, while Robert Abrams, Commander of United States Forces Korea (and Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command), took the role of deputy commander to test the future combined command structure. During this process, it was reported that the United States expressed the opinion that even after the OPCON transfer, operational orders could be issued through the UNC, which would be commanded by a U.S. general. They argued that since the Commander of United States Forces Korea also serves as the UNC Commander, they could intervene in operations.

It is also known that the United States emphasized that even if a military crisis such as a localized provocation escalates, the response should be within the framework of the armistice agreement. This means that the UNC Rules of Engagement and other regulations should apply to the Korean military within the armistice framework. However, South Korea reportedly indicated that if war breaks out, the armistice agreement should be considered null and void, and the transferred operational control should be exercised fully.

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