[Yang Nak-gyu's Defence Club] Failed to Decide the Timing of the Transfer of Wartime Operational Control

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] The last South Korea-U.S. joint military exercise under the Moon Jae-in administration will conclude on the 28th. The transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON), a pledge of the Moon Jae-in government, will ultimately be deferred to the next administration.

According to military officials on the day, this year's first half Combined Command Post Training (CCPT) began on the 18th and lasted for two weeks. CCPT is a "defensive" exercise conducted twice annually, in the first and second halves of the year, carried out solely as a computer-simulated command post exercise without any outdoor field training. The South Korea-U.S. military authorities plan to conduct a post-exercise review of the results on the 29th.

During the exercise period, the South Korea-U.S. forces dispersed command posts to locations such as the B-1 document bunker of the Capital Defense Command and the U.S. Forces Korea bunker (Tango) in Seongnam, Gyeonggi Province, minimizing the gathering of personnel from both countries except for essential staff, and significantly reducing the scale of participants.

Due to the downsizing of the exercise, the South Korea-U.S. forces were unable to conduct the Future Combined Forces Command (CFC) Full Operational Capability (FOC) evaluation within this administration. Instead, it is reported that some theater operation rehearsals led by the Future CFC, commanded by a South Korean general, were included.

However, following the 53rd Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) held last December between Defense Minister Suh Wook and U.S. Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, a joint press conference announced plans to conduct the FOC evaluation in the second half of this year, so it is expected to be carried out within this year.

Meanwhile, there are expectations that the South Korea-U.S. joint exercises in the second half of the year will be further strengthened. President-elect Yoon Seok-yeol stated in an interview with the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) on the 24th (local time) that since 2018, South Korea-U.S. joint exercises have been scaled down, and he is "considering resuming South Korea-U.S. outdoor field training this fall or next spring. We will see the resumption of combined outdoor exercises in some form." He also expressed his intention to consult with the U.S. regarding the exact timing and scale.

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