Korean government starts negotiations with the US on "transferring wartime operational command authority"
Work discussions have also begun on the reorganization of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea... Separated from trade and defense spending, the South Korean government says: "The U.S. attitude is not negative"... Lee Jae-myung listens to the NSC report
On the 10th, it was learned that the governments of South Korea and the United States are negotiating the transfer of wartime operational command authority (operational power) to the South Korean military, separate from trade and defense spending negotiations. This negotiation on the transfer of operational authority is different from previous ones, as it relates to changing the scale or composition of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea. South Korea and the United States have already started working discussions on this issue.
Lee Jae-myung chaired the first full meeting of the National Security Council (NSC) after the new government took office. While reviewing security issues that need to be resolved, Lee Jae-myung listened to reports from the Ministry of Defense and other departments on the issue of transferring operational authority.
A senior official from the South Korean government said to this newspaper on the same day: "The transfer of operational authority is an issue the government hopes to promote, and the U.S. attitude is not so negative. This is not a major part of the trade negotiation." He said that both countries' positions are the same, "This is an issue that can be directly negotiated between the two countries." The Trump administration planned to transfer operational authority to South Korea while changing the size, status, and composition of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea, in order to focus on containing China. Lee Jae-myung had also made the transfer of operational authority a campaign promise.
The head of the National Security Office, Wi Seong-lok, visited Washington from the 6th to the 8th, meeting with U.S. National Security Advisor and Secretary of State Marco Rubio, discussing unresolved issues regarding trade and defense. A source from the South Korean government said: "As far as I know, the meeting between Wi Seong-lok and Rubio did not discuss the issue of transferring operational authority, and the issue was discussed through other channels between South Korea and the U.S."
From the current atmosphere of the Trump administration, the transfer of operational authority directly relates to the reorganization and reduction of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea. If implemented, it is expected to have a significant impact. The current government has also realized this. A government official said: "This is a difficult issue that needs to be negotiated now." Regarding the timing of the transfer of operational authority, he said: "There are many complex situations, and it needs to be handled with caution."
Additionally, the presidential office stated that on the same day, Lee Jae-myung at the NSC said: "We should strive to restore the severed inter-Korean relations. Peace and coexistence between North and South Korea is the most realistic and practical choice for Korean security."
Source: Chosun Ilbo
Original: https://www.toutiao.com/article/1837509863241739/
Statement: The article represents the views of the author himself