N. Korea threat remains "real" but contained: USFK chief

By Byun Duk-kun and Kim Boram
SEOUL, Nov. 14 (Yonhap) -- North Korea continues to pose a real threat to South
Korea and the rest of Northeast Asia with its nuclear capabilities and weapons of
mass destruction, but the South Korea-U.S. alliance is successfully deterring any
aggression from the communist nation, Gen. Walter Sharp, the chief of U.S. Forces
Korea (USFK), said Friday.

"While North Korea's capability has limitations, they can still cause enormous
damage on South Korea with little or no warning," Sharp said, noting the North
continues to deploy over 70 percent of its military assets along the
demilitarized zone that divides the two Koreas.
"Threats in Northeast Asia remain very real," said the USFK chief, who also heads
the South Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC). His remarks came in a seminar
co-hosted by Seoul's Korea Institute for Defense Analyses and Washington's
Institute for National Strategic Studies to mark the 30th anniversary of the CFC.
Sharp said the CFC has been the cornerstone of the South Korea-U.S. alliance
formed on battlefields of the 1950-53 Korean War that has not only deterred
aggression but has also enabled millions of Korean people to prosper and enjoy
the liberties of a free nation.
"The first responsibility of any nation is to provide security for its people,
and the Republic of Korea armed forces have the proud tradition of doing just
that," he said, calling South Korea by its official name.
The time, however, has now come for the countries' combined forces to take the
next step, Sharp said, referring to the scheduled dismantlement of the CFC.
In April 2012, Seoul will retake wartime operational control of its troops from
Washington, upon which the American commander of the combined forces will be left
with control over U.S. troops only.
Sharp said the transfer of wartime operational control, often called OPCON, back
to Seoul was not only a "natural evolution" of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, but
that it owed to South Korea's armed forces, which he said was now one of the
strongest and most capable militaries in the world.
"As we proceed with OPCON transfer, we enter into an era when Korean people can
be proud of not only their strong armed forces today, but can also be proud of
having the ultimate responsibility of their own defense," said the USFK chief,
who also wears the hat of the commander of the United Nations Command in Korea.
"The United States will continue to provide steadfast support, and after 2012,
U.S. forces will still be in Korea, plan, train and exercise together with ROK
counterparts and support this strong alliance," he added.
Following the disbandment of the CFC in 2012, the United States plans to set up a
Korea Command, or KorCom, to take control of its own troops while Seoul is also
expected to set up a corresponding command headquarters of its troops,
tentatively named the Joint Forces Command.
South and North Korea technically remain at war as the Korean War ended with a
mere ceasefire, not a peace treaty.
Some 28,500 U.S. servicemembers are currently stationed here as a deterrent
against possible aggression from the North.
bdk@yna.co.kr
(END)