United States Forces Korea (USFK) Expects to Deepen Commitment
Recent provocations from North Korea, including the nation’s latest missile launch, expedited a movement to restructure the current alliance between South Korea and the United States. The current alliance dates back to the aftermath of the Korean War in 1953, when both countries signed the Mutual Defense Treaty to deter future North Korean aggression. “The United States remains steadfast in its commitment to the defense of the Republic of Korea and to maintaining stability on the Korean Peninsula, to include extended deterrence provided by our conventional forces and our nuclear umbrella,” remarked Lieutenant General Terrence O’Shaughnessy, Deputy Commander of US Forces Korea (USFK), after North Korea’s unsuccessful hydrogen bomb testing last January.
The new extended deterrence is expected to bring forth deployment of highly strategic military assets onto the Korean peninsula. These assets include B-2 bombers, B-52 bombers, F-22 stealth fighter jets, and nuclear-equipped submarines, which will make it possible to launch precision strikes against key WMD facilities in North Korea. They also display the ability to launch massive retaliation operations.
USFK has historically been quick to respond to North Korea’s provocations. In 2010, USS George Washington participated in a naval operation in the Yellow Sea after North Korea killed 46 South Korean seamen aboard the ship Cheonan by a torpedo strike. Following North Korea’s nuclear tests in February 2013, several B-52 and B-2 bombers flew over the Korean peninsula from Guam to signify America’s nuclear umbrella.
USFK took extra steps to respond the latest missile launch by deploying more Patriot missiles to the current forces stationed in the peninsula. These missiles will come from the D Battery of the 1-43 Air Defense Artillery unit from Fort Bliss in Texas, which will be rotated out every six months. Patriot missiles are able to intercept North Korea’s short-range missiles, as well as its longer-range Scud and Rodong missiles that have the ability to target the entire Korean peninsula.
The Pentagon’s latest report to Congress expressed serious concerns over North Korea’s Special Operations forces, labelling them as “the most highly trained, well-equipped, best-fed, and highly motivated.”
In response, the upcoming Key Resolve/Foal Eagle exercise (KR/FE), an annual joint and combined exercise conducted by the USFK and its allies, is expected to make record-breaking changes.
According to the Ministry of Defense, the upcoming KR/FE will incorporate 5,750 more personnel and 45 more fighter jets. Discussion over deploying the nuclear-powered supercarrier USS John C Stennis is also gaining momentum.
This year’s KR/FE will also be a testing ground for the revised operation plan (OPLAN) from last August. Compared to its preceding OPLAN 5027, the current OPLAN 5015 focuses on early detection of North Korean missile launches and preemptive strikes on key North Korean military facilities and assets. It will also incorporate the 4D concept of detect, disrupt, destroy, and defense, which was established in last year’s Security Consultative Meeting.