USFK Commander Abrams: "No Signs of North Korean Provocation"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy New York=Correspondent Baek Jong-min] Robert Abrams, Commander of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command and Commander of United States Forces Korea, stated that North Korea does not currently show signs of imminent provocations.

Commander Abrams said on the 10th (local time) during an online seminar hosted by the U.S. think tank Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) that people expect North Korea to unveil a new weapons system on the occasion of the 75th anniversary of the founding of the Workers' Party next month on the 10th, adding, "That may be possible, but we are not currently seeing any signs of provocations of any kind."

One day earlier, CSIS claimed that recent activities suggesting preparations for a test launch of a submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) at the Sinpo Shipyard in South Hamgyong Province had been detected, increasing experts' warnings about the possibility of North Korean provocations.

He said that North Korea is currently focusing on responding to COVID-19 and concentrating on typhoon damage recovery.

Regarding the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON), Abrams said he "politically supports" a four-star Korean general commanding wartime forces and is working closely with South Korea. Explaining the conditions necessary for the OPCON transfer, he said, "In 2019, there was more progress than in the previous three years."

Regarding the role of the United Nations Command, he stated that it respects South Korea's sovereignty and does not engage in sanction enforcement. This denies claims by some that the UN Command blocked the import of Tamiflu into North Korea, inter-Korean railway surveys, reunions of separated families, and tours to Mount Kumgang.

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