South Korea and the U.S. Strengthen Readiness Against North Korean Provocations This Year

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The chairmen of the South Korea-U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff have decided to strengthen the 'Fight Tonight' readiness posture in the second half of this year. This decision comes amid assessments that North Korea is highly likely to conduct test launches within this year after unveiling new intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) presumed to be equipped with multiple warheads and submarine-launched ballistic missiles (SLBMs, Pukguksong-4 type) at its military parade on the 10th.

According to the Joint Chiefs of Staff on the 14th, U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley expressed this stance during the 45th Korea-U.S. Military Committee Meeting (MCM) held via video conference with South Korean Chairman Won In-chul the previous day. The MCM is an annual meeting held to provide strategic directives and operational guidelines for the defense of South Korea to the commanders of the Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command and to discuss military issues between the two countries. This year, due to the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the meeting was held in a video conference format.

The emphasis on maintaining a constant 'Fight Tonight' posture by the Korea-U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff is due to the high likelihood of North Korea conducting test launches of ICBMs and SLBMs within this year. During the meeting, the two countries also shared analysis results of North Korea's new ICBMs and discussed key military issues in this context.

The Korea-U.S. alliance is currently focusing on the possibility that North Korea's new ICBMs may be equipped with multiple warheads. To mount multiple warheads, North Korea must complete technologies including ▲ atmospheric reentry of the ICBM ▲ post-boost vehicle (PBV) ▲ miniaturization of nuclear weapons. The Korea-U.S. alliance believes North Korea will conduct test launches of the new ICBMs to perfect these technologies and plans to concentrate surveillance capabilities to monitor North Korea's movements.

Kim Yeon-chul, former Minister of Unification, appeared on MBC Radio's 'Kim Jong-bae's Focus' on the 12th and pointed out, "To deploy the newly unveiled ICBMs and SLBMs in actual combat, test launches must be conducted," adding, "Preventing strategic provocations such as North Korea's test launches remains a challenge."

At the MCM, the United States reaffirmed its firm commitment to the defense of the Korean Peninsula, including the provision of 'extended deterrence.' Extended deterrence refers to the U.S. support using strategic bombers, ICBMs, missile defense systems, and other forces when the U.S. mainland or its allies face nuclear attack threats.

Discussions on the transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) were also held at the MCM. Among the three phases of evaluating the future Combined Forces Command's mission capability after the OPCON transfer, the second phase, Full Operational Capability (FOC) verification scheduled for this year, was not properly conducted due to the COVID-19 situation. The Korea-U.S. alliance is negotiating to conduct the FOC verification exercise for the future Combined Forces Command early next year. It is reported that they are particularly discussing conducting the verification exercise during the first half joint command post exercise scheduled for March to April. Due to these circumstances, concerns have been raised that achieving the goal of OPCON transfer within the Moon Jae-in administration after passing the next phase, Full Mission Capability (FMC) evaluation, might be hindered.

The results of the MCM discussions will be reported to the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM). Defense Minister Seo Wook departed on the afternoon of the 13th to attend the 52nd SCM held in the United States. Minister Seo, visiting the U.S. using an Air Force aerial refueling aircraft (KC-330), will visit the Korean War Veterans Memorial on the 14th (local time) and then hold the SCM meeting with U.S. Secretary of Defense Mark Esper.

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