At National Assembly National Defense
Committee’s meeting for comprehensive evaluation of the Ministry of National
Defense held on October 27th, the New Politics Alliance for Democracy Party
strongly criticized the government regarding the agreement made during the 46th
United State-Republic of Korea Security Consultative Meeting to further delay
the transfer of wartime operational control stating that “in reality, they
surrendered military power with this indefinite delay.”
In the eyes of the average citizen, it
seems as though congressman are voicing criticisms of the delay in transfer of
wartime operational concern while debating pros and cons in a well-prepared and
peaceful country, where North Korea’s threatening weapons of mass destruction
are not a problem. With South Korea lacking the minimum tactical nuclear
weapons or chemical weapons needed to confront North Korea’s weapons of mass
destruction, what’s the point in all the empty ranting and raving?
Congressman Moon Jae In for the New
Politics Alliance for Democracy stated that “the indefinite delay of the transfer
of wartime operational control is the surrender of military power and no
different from acknowledging our military as a weak and incapable military that
is unable to protect our people on our own. He also strongly criticized the
Park Geun Hye administration that delayed the transfer, saying “the people are
despondent that our military could be so pathetic. This shows the total
security incompetence of our military.” Congressman Moon attacked Minister of
National Defense Han Min Gu, asking if he “was not ashamed that the military
has not exercised autonomous wartime operational control for over 70 years.” Jin
Sung Jun of the same party stated that “the delay of the transfer of wartime
operational control is a second Eulsa Treaty” and “if South Korea had been
robbed of its diplomatic power by Japan in 1905, today the government willingly
turned over its military power to another country.”
Congressman Moon also attacked the Park
Geun Hye administration at the emergency planning committee of the National
Assembly, claiming that “since President Park Geun Hye pledged a seamless transfer
of operational wartime control during presidential elections then agreed to the
U.S.’s delay after the start of her term, she did not just break a commitment,
she tricked the entire nation.” He also declared that “there is nothing more
embarrassing than to hand over operational wartime control to another country
for over 70 years. “
Like the opposition party’s claims, there
is no one who enjoys a foreign military stationed on their grounds and holding
wartime operational control. However, historically, there are almost no
dynasties of the Korean peninsula that did not suffer foreign invasion while
surrounded by powerful nations and when needed, they wisely fought back with
the help of foreign militaries. The Imjin War, the Manchu War of 1636, and the
Eulsa Treaty were disasters caused by party conflicts or power politics that
failed to think far into the future. During the Imjin War, Gwanghaegun [Prince
Gwanghae] called in the army of the Ming Dynasty and handled the Imjin War with
the combined forces of the Joseon and Ming army. Furthermore, he used a loose
reign policy to spark a war between the Ming and Qing with his skillful
diplomacy tactics, while accessing various weapons intelligence and ultimately
overcome the Joseon dynasty’s crisis situation. And the same sort
of wisdom is still needed today. The opposition party’s rebuttal will claim
that this case will be different because we are one people with North Koreans.
I remember the Korean War of 65 years ago.
An ambush by the North Korean army pushed back the tankless South Korean army
from the Nakdong river and when we were left defending only Busan without ability
for any countermeasures, President Lee Seung Man’s final decision was to hand
over wartime operational control to General MacArthur. In comparison, things
are not much different now. North Korea possesses weapons of mass destruction
such as nuclear weapons and missiles but without the support of the American
military, we do not have much counteractive weaponry.
Two days ago, the commander of the United
States Forces Korea warned that “North Korea already possesses the capabilities
for nuclear weapon miniaturization.” Of the opposition party congressmen who
are only familiar with internal South Korean conflict, there were not many who
were concerned with North Korea’s military strength, and were interested only
in dialogue between North and South Korea. Of course, it is better to have
dialogue between North and South Korea than to not. However, it is normal to
not hold unsuccessful negotiations or summits engrossed only with dialogue.
This mentality is merely the helplessness of our weak strategy for weapons of
mass destruction.
Like it or not, in the current reality
where North Korea possess nuclear weapons, South Korea has no choice but to
depend on the U.S.’s nuclear umbrella. South Korea’s military says that they
expect to the return of military operational control around 2023. The “Kill
Chain” of the KAMD [Korean Air and Missile Defense System] and preemptive
strike system are expected to be completed in this time and additional funds of
17 trillion won are necessary. An opposition party congressman claimed,
“Nothing is this world is free. We will have to pay a price for maintaining the
United States Forces Korea” but at this current moment, if our military was to
receive wartime operational control from the United States Forces Korea, we
would pay in opportunity cost and lose the interest of the U.S.
It is said that during the war, Congressman
Moon’s parents fled Heungnam and had him in a prisoners of war camp in Geoje Island.
He would have heard from his parents who turned their backs on their homeland
about the evil deeds and atrocities of North Korea that took place from
liberation until the start of the war. He would have been told about the
suffering of the people under Kim Il Sung’s rule. And it is he who then became
a lawyer, the President’s Chief of Staff, and even a presidential candidate.
And now he is a congressman who knows North Korea’s record better than anyone
else. It is difficult to comprehend why Congressman Moon would make such
statements when it is he who knows better than anyone else that the delay of
transfer of wartime operational control is ultimately not a surrender of
military power but rather an act of guaranteeing South Korea’s security.
*Views expressed in Guest Columns do
not necessarily reflect those of Daily NK.
