The Year 2012: South Korea's Resumption of Wartime Operational Control
Abstract
FROM THE SILVER screen to the pulpit, many are prophesying apocalyptic events in the year 2012 as Earth supposedly enters its final phase of existence. As if this were not bad enough, it is also the year that the Republic of Korea was originally scheduled to reassume wartime operational control (OPCON) of its military forces from the United States. This transfer should have occurred as planned, and must occur in 2015 without another delay. It will unfetter U.S. forces now stationed in Korea for global strategic use. Sixty years ago, newly liberated from Japanese domination and embroiled in a desperate war of survival, the Republic of Korea (ROK) made a strategic decision to subordinate its military forces under the operational control of the United Nations. When hostilities ceased with an armistice agreement, the UN was empowered to maintain the armistice until a peace settlement could be concluded. As a result, the UN commander retained full OPCON over ROK forces until the 1978 establishment of the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC), when full OPCON transferred to the CFC commander. In 1994, the ROK reassumed peacetime OPCON of its forces while the CFC commander retained wartime OPCON of ROK forces.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- May 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA543055
Entities
People
- James M. Minnich
Organizations
- United States Army Combined Arms Center