Combined Forces Commander: "The ROK-US Alliance Must Be Strengthened Across Various Domains"

[Image source=Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] General Paul LaCamera, Commander of the ROK-US Combined Forces Command, stated that the ROK-US alliance must be strengthened across various domains. This is interpreted as a call to join combined operations beyond the Korean Peninsula.

On the 13th, General LaCamera said during his lecture at the 'Asian Leadership Conference,' "North Korea continues to enhance its capabilities to threaten not only South Korea but also regional partner countries and the US mainland," adding, "Considering this background, our ROK-US alliance, which has focused on bilateral relations, must transform into an alliance capable of conducting operations and thinking in a multi-domain environment."

From a military perspective, 'multi-domain' encompasses land, sea, air, cyber, and space domains. The US Indo-Pacific Command plans to establish and operate Multi-Domain Task Forces (MDTF). General LaCamera's remarks appear to refer to 'Multi-Domain Operations' (MDO) in a spatial sense, meaning that current ROK-US combined operations, primarily aimed at deterring North Korean threats and invasions, should be capable of being conducted beyond the Korean Peninsula.

He also emphasized the importance of ROK-US-Japan security cooperation. He stated, "The cooperative relationship among the three countries?ROK, US, and Japan?is very important for stability, peace, and security in Northeast Asia," adding, "We have seen the Afghanistan withdrawal, but in the event of an emergency, countless non-combatants will need to be evacuated from the Korean Peninsula, and intergovernmental cooperation will be crucial." General LaCamera strongly expressed hope for combined live-fire exercises between the ROK and US forces.

He stressed, "Currently, we conduct the Combined Command Post Training (CCPT), but we must also ensure conditions for field training of the army, navy, and air force," emphasizing, "Training must be conducted across multi-domains including air, sea, land, cyber, and space."

Since CCPT is a computer simulation-based exercise, the implication is that actual field training with troop maneuvers is necessary. It is reported that the ROK and US are considering conducting outdoor live exercises during the second half CCPT scheduled to begin on the 22nd of next month.

Regarding measures to deter North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats, General LaCamera pointed out, "'Kill chain' is often mentioned, but in my opinion, 'kill web' is the correct term. It is important not only to focus on the missile itself but also to intercept the launch platforms." The 'kill web' is a parallel missile defense concept capable of simultaneous detection and strike, distinguished from the current serial 'kill chain' which operates through 'understanding-decision-action.'

On the North Korean threat, General LaCamera said, "We consider how to respond when a nuclear explosion occurs, but we must also pay attention not only to North Korea’s nuclear weapons but also to chemical and biological weapons," adding, "We must be able to conduct decontamination training accurately without sending the wrong message to the local community."

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