today:
5
yesterday:
242
Total:
1,004,163

Wartime Operational Control, WT-OPCON

2020.08.12 11:27 Views : 69

Capture.PNG

 

They say timing is everything. In strategy, knowing the opponent's timing, and—more critically—capitalizing on that timing when your opponent least expects it can be pivotal in securing victory. And when it comes to shedding light upon the second- and third-order implications of the transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) on the Korean Peninsula, the timing is demonstrably crucial for all parties, both political and military.

For President Moon Jae-in, the restoration of OPCON transition from the United States to South Korea is tethered to the end of his five-year presidential term in 2022. Proponents of this plan underscore the 2022 transition as a prerequisite for achieving Seoul's “military sovereignty” and shedding its image as a junior partner to Washington. This argument, however, rests more on the foundation of national pride and historical memory than on the actual security implications of the transfer. U.S. and South Korean defense experts have expressed concerns that Seoul may be moving forward and acquiescing to insufficient testing conditions and capabilities to meet this self-imposed deadline. Detractors also point out that South Korea's push for a precipitous completion of OPCON transition risks undermining the U.S.-ROK alliance—which, as recent deadlocked negotiations over the new Special Measures Agreement (SMA) have shown, may face an uncertain future. There are also structural problems with the transfer that if overlooked or addressed only partially, could create challenges to Seoul's ability to seamlessly assume and execute wartime OPCON.

Take, for instance, the dozen or so joint U.S.-ROK exercises that were either canceled or scaled back last year to create a more conducive diplomatic atmosphere for nuclear negotiations with North Korea. The implicit expectation of the scale-down in exercises was that the North Korean regime would extend reciprocal diplomatic gestures and reduce military tensions by canceling its own military exercises. North Korea has met neither expectation. And while some maintain that computer-based simulations and more limited exercises can serve as effective substitutes, military experts continue to stress the importance of live exercises for achieving interoperability, combat readiness, and allied deterrence. If anything, there is likely a need for more exercises between the allies to verifiably test the post-OPCON security environment.

No. Subject Date Views
Notice Jon Voight: Pray Donald Trump makes a ‘comeback stronger than ever’ 2022.08.12 540
Notice America's Anthem 2020.12.27 638
456 Drive-in comedy shows are pulling into Irvine Improv 2020.08.12 55
455 Drive-in comedy shows are pulling into Irvine Improv 2020.08.12 57
» Wartime Operational Control, WT-OPCON file 2020.08.12 69
453 Wartime Operational Control, WT-OPCON file 2020.08.12 72
452 Hong Kong people rush to buy copies of Apple Daily after owner Jimmy Lai's arrest under China-imposed security law. file 2020.08.11 62
451 Hong Kong people rush to buy copies of Apple Daily after owner Jimmy Lai's arrest under China-imposed security law. file 2020.08.11 70
450 Former Irvine Mayor Larry Agran Running for City Council file 2020.08.11 53
449 Former Irvine Mayor Larry Agran Running for City Council file 2020.08.11 53
448 Why nature conservation is necessary 2020.08.09 59
447 Why nature conservation is necessary 2020.08.09 45
446 Beirut Blast file 2020.08.05 74
445 Beirut Blast file 2020.08.05 1722
444 Make America Great Again file 2020.08.03 1834
443 Make America Great Again file 2020.08.03 41955
442 New Zealand pressuring South Korea to co-operate in diplomat sex assault case 2020.08.02 191
441 New Zealand pressuring South Korea to co-operate in diplomat sex assault case 2020.08.02 189
440 윌리엄 바 법무장관, '친중 기업들에게 경고한다.' file 2020.08.02 89
439 윌리엄 바 법무장관, '친중 기업들에게 경고한다.' file 2020.08.02 86
438 연방정부 지원 600불 연장 무산 file 2020.08.01 71
437 연방정부 지원 600불 연장 무산 file 2020.08.01 67
436 임종석 고발건 2020.07.30 316
435 임종석 고발건 2020.07.30 331
434 The City of Irvine to begin offering drive-up COVID-19 testing 2020.07.28 65
433 The City of Irvine to begin offering drive-up COVID-19 testing 2020.07.28 61
432 투자의 귀재 2020.07.28 51
431 투자의 귀재 2020.07.28 52
430 美 펜스 부통령, -백선엽 장군을 전쟁 영웅 그 이상으로 존경- 2020.07.27 39
429 美 펜스 부통령, -백선엽 장군을 전쟁 영웅 그 이상으로 존경- 2020.07.27 54
428 [중국의 바이오 테러] 중국→미국 배달 '정체불명 씨앗' 주의보 2020.07.27 68
427 [중국의 바이오 테러] 중국→미국 배달 '정체불명 씨앗' 주의보 2020.07.27 66