Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06SEOUL2704
2006-08-10 09:33:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Seoul
Cable title:
PRESIDENT ROH ON WARTIME OPERATIONAL CONTROL BY
how-toVZCZCXYZ0000 PP RUEHWEB DE RUEHUL #2704/01 2220933 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 100933Z AUG 06 FM AMEMBASSY SEOUL TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 9596 INFO RHHMUNA/CDR USPACOM HONOLULU HI PRIORITY RUEKJCS/SECDEF WASHINGTON DC//OSD/ISA/EAP// PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J2 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J3 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA J5 SEOUL KOR PRIORITY RHMFISS/COMUSKOREA SCJS SEOUL KOR PRIORITY
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002704
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ROH ON WARTIME OPERATIONAL CONTROL BY
2010-11
Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
SUMMARY
-------
C O N F I D E N T I A L SEOUL 002704
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ROH ON WARTIME OPERATIONAL CONTROL BY
2010-11
Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) President Roh held an exclusive two-hour interview
with state run news agency Yonhap at the Blue House on August
9, expressing his confidence in South Korea's defense
capabilities. He said that "the ROK military is ready even
immediately" to conduct independent wartime operational
control (OPCON). Roh said OPCON will "eventually happen in
2010 or 2011," at about the same time U.S. forces relocate to
Pyongtaek. Roh described OPCON as the core of national
defense and sovereignty, reaffirming his emphasis on
"self-reliant" policies. Roh also made several references to
lack of respect by the U.S. toward the ROK, stating that
"it's about time that U.S. respects South Korea as an
independent nation" and asking
whether the public wants a "yes-man" as their President when
dealing with the U.S. Roh also viewed ROK's sole control of
OPCON as means to initiate military talks with North Korea
"to ease tension and build up military confidence measures on
the peninsula." He downplayed fears that the wartime OPCON
transfer would lead to further reduction of U.S. troops and
underscored continued U.S. military commitment in the future.
2. (C) In his meeting with the Ambassador on August 10,
National Security Advisor Song Min-Soon told the Ambassador
that he was quite disturbed by divisions in domestic
political circles, making OPCON into a highly charged issue.
Song stated that the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is
exaggerating and giving a false impression that a change in
command relations would involve a substantial reduction of
U.S. troops in South Korea, some even speculating a complete
withdrawal. END SUMMARY.
AUGUST 9 INTERVIEW -- BLUE HOUSE VS. DEFENSE
--------------
3. (SBU) The August 9 Roh interview also highlighted
differences between the Blue House and Ministry of Defense
(MND). According to MND officials, no modifications have
been made from their previous position that the ROK military
will not be ready before 2012.
4. (U) Reactions to the interview are sharply divided within
the National Assembly (NA). GNP members criticized Roh's
remarks as exposing his ignorance and irresponsibility for
national security and vowed to hold hearings at the NA
National Defense Committee. GNP Chair Kang Jae-Sup
questioned Roh's political motives and supported an "all-out
inspection" through policy hearings. GNP Foreign Relations
Committee Chair Hwang Jin-ha stated that proper preparation
is more important than timing, noting that it is "impossible"
for South Korea to win, or deter, a war with only South
Korean capabilities.
5. (U) Ruling party lawmakers were largely supportive.
Former Chair of the National Defense Committee Chang Yong-Dal
described the proposed 2010-2011 OPCON transfer as "very
reasonable." Deputy Chairman of the National Defense
Committee Im Jong-Seok argued that the conservatives (GNP)
should have more confidence in the ROK military.
OPCON MUCH DISCUSSED LATELY
--------------
6. (U) President Roh's interview on OPCON transfer took place
roughly a week after former Defense Ministers openly opposed
the OPCON transfer. On August 2, thirteen former Defense
Ministers met with current Defense Minister Yoon, urging him
to relay their concerns about premature OPCON transfer to the
Blue House. On August 3, Yoon responded publicly that ROK
will be ready to conduct independent wartime OPCON after
2012. The former ministers took the announcement as a
dismissal of their concerns by the Roh administration.
TEXT OF AUGUST 9 INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT ROH
--------------
7. (U) Complete text of President Roh's remarks (six pages)
e-mailed to EAP/K.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) The transfer of wartime OPCON has become a deeply
divisive political issue in South Korea. Both President Roh
and the opposition GNP are fanning the flame. President Roh
continues to frame the OPCON transfer as "self-reliance" and
"independence" issue, which inevitably invites charges from
the conservative GNP that he is being irresponsible, putting
the U.S.- ROK alliance and the nation's security at risk.
The GNP allegations have struck a chord especially among the
traditional alliance supporters who are well aware of the
difficulties USFK has had in resolving a number of
high-profile management and operational issues: environmental
remediation and operational issues, access to training ranges
for USFK fighter pilots; and SMA burden sharing.
VERSHBOW
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
E.O. 12958: DECL: 04/21/2014
TAGS: PARM PREL MARR PGOV KS
SUBJECT: PRESIDENT ROH ON WARTIME OPERATIONAL CONTROL BY
2010-11
Classified By: A/DCM Joseph Y. Yun. Reasons 1.4 (b,d).
SUMMARY
--------------
1. (SBU) President Roh held an exclusive two-hour interview
with state run news agency Yonhap at the Blue House on August
9, expressing his confidence in South Korea's defense
capabilities. He said that "the ROK military is ready even
immediately" to conduct independent wartime operational
control (OPCON). Roh said OPCON will "eventually happen in
2010 or 2011," at about the same time U.S. forces relocate to
Pyongtaek. Roh described OPCON as the core of national
defense and sovereignty, reaffirming his emphasis on
"self-reliant" policies. Roh also made several references to
lack of respect by the U.S. toward the ROK, stating that
"it's about time that U.S. respects South Korea as an
independent nation" and asking
whether the public wants a "yes-man" as their President when
dealing with the U.S. Roh also viewed ROK's sole control of
OPCON as means to initiate military talks with North Korea
"to ease tension and build up military confidence measures on
the peninsula." He downplayed fears that the wartime OPCON
transfer would lead to further reduction of U.S. troops and
underscored continued U.S. military commitment in the future.
2. (C) In his meeting with the Ambassador on August 10,
National Security Advisor Song Min-Soon told the Ambassador
that he was quite disturbed by divisions in domestic
political circles, making OPCON into a highly charged issue.
Song stated that the opposition Grand National Party (GNP) is
exaggerating and giving a false impression that a change in
command relations would involve a substantial reduction of
U.S. troops in South Korea, some even speculating a complete
withdrawal. END SUMMARY.
AUGUST 9 INTERVIEW -- BLUE HOUSE VS. DEFENSE
--------------
3. (SBU) The August 9 Roh interview also highlighted
differences between the Blue House and Ministry of Defense
(MND). According to MND officials, no modifications have
been made from their previous position that the ROK military
will not be ready before 2012.
4. (U) Reactions to the interview are sharply divided within
the National Assembly (NA). GNP members criticized Roh's
remarks as exposing his ignorance and irresponsibility for
national security and vowed to hold hearings at the NA
National Defense Committee. GNP Chair Kang Jae-Sup
questioned Roh's political motives and supported an "all-out
inspection" through policy hearings. GNP Foreign Relations
Committee Chair Hwang Jin-ha stated that proper preparation
is more important than timing, noting that it is "impossible"
for South Korea to win, or deter, a war with only South
Korean capabilities.
5. (U) Ruling party lawmakers were largely supportive.
Former Chair of the National Defense Committee Chang Yong-Dal
described the proposed 2010-2011 OPCON transfer as "very
reasonable." Deputy Chairman of the National Defense
Committee Im Jong-Seok argued that the conservatives (GNP)
should have more confidence in the ROK military.
OPCON MUCH DISCUSSED LATELY
--------------
6. (U) President Roh's interview on OPCON transfer took place
roughly a week after former Defense Ministers openly opposed
the OPCON transfer. On August 2, thirteen former Defense
Ministers met with current Defense Minister Yoon, urging him
to relay their concerns about premature OPCON transfer to the
Blue House. On August 3, Yoon responded publicly that ROK
will be ready to conduct independent wartime OPCON after
2012. The former ministers took the announcement as a
dismissal of their concerns by the Roh administration.
TEXT OF AUGUST 9 INTERVIEW WITH PRESIDENT ROH
--------------
7. (U) Complete text of President Roh's remarks (six pages)
e-mailed to EAP/K.
COMMENT
--------------
8. (SBU) The transfer of wartime OPCON has become a deeply
divisive political issue in South Korea. Both President Roh
and the opposition GNP are fanning the flame. President Roh
continues to frame the OPCON transfer as "self-reliance" and
"independence" issue, which inevitably invites charges from
the conservative GNP that he is being irresponsible, putting
the U.S.- ROK alliance and the nation's security at risk.
The GNP allegations have struck a chord especially among the
traditional alliance supporters who are well aware of the
difficulties USFK has had in resolving a number of
high-profile management and operational issues: environmental
remediation and operational issues, access to training ranges
for USFK fighter pilots; and SMA burden sharing.
VERSHBOW