Think tank advice came out that South Korea and the United States should state a state of emergency in their wartime operational plans (OPLANs) in consideration of China, which is emerging as a threat.
The Washington think tank Center for a New American Security (CNAS) published this view on the 15th (local time) through a report titled “Beyond the Korean Peninsula, China, and Promoting US-ROK Cooperation on Multilateralism, Military, and Security Technology.”
The report said that the ROK-US alliance, which celebrated its 70th anniversary this year, had entered a critical phase, and assessed that “after several challenging years, bilateral relations and ties are improving.”
However, at the same time, the report points out that the regional and global security environment has deteriorated due to threats from North Korea, China, and Russia. In particular, he said that China’s recent challenge has caused a change in alliance priorities.
“North Korea remains a direct threat to South Korea and drives many of the alliance’s activities,” the report said, “but China’s rapid military modernization and aggressive actions in the region affect South Korean security.”
In this context, the report advised the ROK-US alliance that “OPLANs should be revised quietly but urgently in order to respond to two emergencies related to China.”
The possibility of a Chinese attack in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea was described as the first state of emergency. The report saw that in this case in particular, North Korea could seize the opportunity for a simultaneous attack.
The second was an emergency on the Korean Peninsula or in adjacent waters. In this area, the combined forces of South Korea and the United States can face Chinese forces such as the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) or the Coast Guard.
The report also mentioned the need to strengthen trilateral cooperation among South Korea, the US, and Japan. Putting the historical issue aside for a moment, it is necessary to improve relations with Japan with the support of the United States.
In particular, the report pointed out that cooperation between South Korea and Japan under the Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) must be completely restored. Instead, Japan said that Korea should be invited to the G7 meeting.
In addition to the G7, a proposal was made that Korea should participate in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) and Quad in the form of a ‘plus’. It is an explanation that the United States should support such activities of South Korea.
Regarding the Korean three-axis system in preparation for the North Korean threat, he also said that the United States should seek ways to sell, jointly produce, and share related defense technologies. It also includes the need to explain Korea’s advanced weapons capabilities.
It also included the need to identify common priorities in the Indo-Pacific strategy of the two countries, including deepening South Korea-US cooperation in the cyberspace domain, and develop specific initiatives to advance common goals.
Joint research between South Korea and the US to strengthen the alliance’s nuclear deterrence was also discussed. The report’s request is that all options, starting with the principle of strengthening deterrence, should not be discarded without reexamination.
The report also said that the two countries should conclude a mutual defense procurement agreement (RDP) so that there are no barriers to the integration of defense supply chains between the two countries.
In addition, the report also advised that Korea should establish policies on various agendas that may be somewhat uncomfortable with China if it is to become a global pivotal country.
“At a time when threats from North Korea, China, and Russia are escalating, the United States and South Korea must work together for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula, in the Indo-Pacific, and throughout the world,” the report said.
[워싱턴=뉴시스]
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.