USFK commander reconfirms preparedness against N.K. provocation

SEOUL, April 22 (Yonhap) -- The U.S. Forces Korea is fully prepared for any
contingency on the Korean Peninsula and will remain so even after wartime
operational command of South Korean troops is transferred back to Seoul, its
commander said Wednesday.

Seoul is vulnerable to a sudden attack from North Korean special forces and
artillery due to its geographical proximity to the inter-Korean border, Gen.
Walter Sharp said in an address at the Korea Chamber of Commerce and Industry in
downtown Seoul.
"North Korea has an old but very large military that is positioned in a very
dangerous place, very closed to the Republic of Korea. They have a very large
special operating force. It has the world's largest artillery force that is
positioned as far south as possible and that can rain (munitions) on Seoul
today," Sharp said. The Republic of Korea is the official name of South Korea.
"We will have one plan that both countries have agreed to of how the supporting
command of the United States will work together and fight side by side with the
supporting command of the Republic of Korea," the commander said.
Sharp said USFK is prepared to "fight and win," meaning they already "have
operational plans prepared in order to be able to meet any contingencies." He
also emphasized the close cooperation between United States and South Korean
forces even after the wartime operational control of South Korean troops is
transferred to South Korea in 2012.
His comments came a day after North Korea raised inter-Korean tension by
threatening to withdraw benefits provided to South Korean firms at a joint
industrial complex in the North's border town of Kaesong. Earlier this week, the
communist North warned South Korea against joining a U.S.-established
anti-proliferation security initiative, saying, "Seoul is merely 50 km away" from
the border.
The North has persistently said South Korea's full participation in the
Proliferation Security Initiative would be tantamount to a declaration of a war.
Seoul's defense minister responded by saying that Pyongyang is also only 150km
away from the border and the U.S. and South Korea would be ready to immediately
retaliate should there be any provocation.
About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against
North Korea since the Korean War (1950-1953) ended with a truce.
ylee@yna.co.kr
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