[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] The New Operational Plan to Be Created by South Korea and the US

The "Operation Plan 5015" also newly designated Joint Defense Point Intercepts (JDPI). Since last year, South Korea and the United States have newly selected and completed verification of about 700 JDPIs, including the "biological weapons origin sites."

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] It has been reported that the military authorities of South Korea and the United States will establish a combined operational plan (OPLAN) based on the premise that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons. Defense Minister Seo Wook and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin officially formalized the plan to revise the OPLAN through the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) at the end of last year, deciding at the working level to take North Korea's nuclear possession into account. This has been interpreted as effectively acknowledging North Korea's nuclear possession.

On the 31st (Korean time), Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Won In-chul held a bilateral meeting with U.S. Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Mark Milley at Camp Smith, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, and signed the Strategic Planning Directive (SPD) developed according to the new Strategic Planning Guidance (SPG). For South Korea and the U.S. to create a new OPLAN, they must agree on the SPD.

The 'OPLAN 5015' being revised this time was created in 2015 by integrating peacetime plans responding to localized provocations. It is reported that the South Korean and U.S. military authorities plan to reflect the threat of North Korea's small tactical nuclear weapons in this revision. It is observed that North Korea is developing short-range weapons as tactical nuclear delivery means aimed not only at South Korea but also at U.S. bases in Japan adjacent to the East Sea. Although the current OPLAN includes a 'tailored extended deterrence strategy' and the '4D plan' (Detection, Disruption, Destruction, Defense) to prepare for North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) such as nuclear weapons and missiles, the fact that the tactical nuclear threat has been specifically identified is evaluated as effectively taking North Korea's nuclear possession into account.

In particular, the new OPLAN is also expected to include Joint Defense Point of Intercept (JDPI). In 2016, South Korea and the U.S. selected about 700 JDPIs, including 'biological weapon sources.' However, since last September, North Korea's railway mobile missile regiment has diversified its launch methods, such as launching ballistic missiles from trains. Although North Korea's railway length exceeds 5,000 km, most lines are single-track and facilities are aging, so only specific areas will be included as intercept points.

A military official said, "The official announcement that both South Korea and the U.S. have started revising the OPLAN contains a 'warning message to North Korea' amid recent observations that North Korea's ICBM provocations have resumed and the seventh nuclear test is imminent."

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