ID :
27227
Wed, 10/29/2008 - 12:23
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/27227
The shortlink copeid
U.S. proposes action plan in case of N. Korea collapse
SEOUL, Oct. 29 (Yonhap) -- The United States has proposed setting up a detailed action plan in case of the collapse of the North Korean regime under Kim Jong-il, a move Seoul once rejected for fears it would provoke Pyongyang, sources said Wednesday.
The proposal came at a recent meeting between the heads of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff of South Korea and the United States, known as the Military Committee
Meeting (MCM), the source said on condition of anonymity.
The two allies had previously attempted to set up a similar plan several years
ago, but only ended up agreeing on a conceptual plan, known as Contingency Plan
5029, as Seoul expressed concern U.S. involvement in such an event could infringe
upon its sovereignty.
"The U.S. side proposed the countries develop CONPLAN 5029 into an operational
plan at the MCM," the source said. The annual meeting of military chiefs was held
in Washington on Oct. 16.
The U.S. proposal was then reported to the countries' top defense officials,
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates, during their annual ministerial talks, known as the Security Consultative
Meeting, in Washington the next day, according to the source.
Seoul and Washington have a separate operational plan, known as OPLAN 5027, which
details various actions for the combined forces of South Korea and the United
States in case of a North Korean invasion.
Reports that the reclusive North Korean leader suffered a stroke in early August
led to a sense of urgency among officials for the need to further develop the
current contingency plan 5029.
Seoul, however, remained lukewarm to the idea mainly out of fear it could
unnecessarily provoke the North, where the personality cult surrounding Kim
Jong-il and his late father and founder of the country Kim Il-sung form the basis
of the state's ruling ideology.
The South Korean defense minister said in a joint press conference following his
meeting with Gates that the sides have reached an agreement on what he called a
"basic principle" on the need to have shared plans.
"South Korea and the United States are fully prepared for developments that can
have a large impact on security," Lee said at the joint press conference, "and
the two countries will continue to develop our preparation plans." Lee was
responding to questions over whether Seoul and Washington were working on
finalizing OPLAN 5029.
The proposal came at a recent meeting between the heads of the Joint Chiefs of
Staff of South Korea and the United States, known as the Military Committee
Meeting (MCM), the source said on condition of anonymity.
The two allies had previously attempted to set up a similar plan several years
ago, but only ended up agreeing on a conceptual plan, known as Contingency Plan
5029, as Seoul expressed concern U.S. involvement in such an event could infringe
upon its sovereignty.
"The U.S. side proposed the countries develop CONPLAN 5029 into an operational
plan at the MCM," the source said. The annual meeting of military chiefs was held
in Washington on Oct. 16.
The U.S. proposal was then reported to the countries' top defense officials,
South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Defense Secretary Robert
Gates, during their annual ministerial talks, known as the Security Consultative
Meeting, in Washington the next day, according to the source.
Seoul and Washington have a separate operational plan, known as OPLAN 5027, which
details various actions for the combined forces of South Korea and the United
States in case of a North Korean invasion.
Reports that the reclusive North Korean leader suffered a stroke in early August
led to a sense of urgency among officials for the need to further develop the
current contingency plan 5029.
Seoul, however, remained lukewarm to the idea mainly out of fear it could
unnecessarily provoke the North, where the personality cult surrounding Kim
Jong-il and his late father and founder of the country Kim Il-sung form the basis
of the state's ruling ideology.
The South Korean defense minister said in a joint press conference following his
meeting with Gates that the sides have reached an agreement on what he called a
"basic principle" on the need to have shared plans.
"South Korea and the United States are fully prepared for developments that can
have a large impact on security," Lee said at the joint press conference, "and
the two countries will continue to develop our preparation plans." Lee was
responding to questions over whether Seoul and Washington were working on
finalizing OPLAN 5029.
