ID :
21198
Thu, 09/25/2008 - 17:56
Auther :
Shortlink :
http://m.oananews.org//node/21198
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Seoul takes over CFC search, rescue missions for first time By Byun Duk-kun
SEOUL, Sept. 25 (Yonhap) -- South Korea will from next week take over the search and rescue missions of South Korea-U.S. combined forces for the first time in history ahead of the reclamation of full wartime operational control of its troops from the United States in 2012, the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS) said Thursday.
The search and rescue mission is the last of 10 major military tasks whose
responsibilities will be handed over to South Korean forces before the transfer
of the wartime operational control, often called OPCON, the office said.
"As the search and rescue mission, which has been a responsibility of U.S. Forces
Korea, will be transferred to South Korean fores, the transfer of all 10 military
missions pursued since 2004 will be completed," the JCS said in a press release.
Gen. Kim Tae-young, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and USFK commander
Gen. Walter Sharp were set to validate the transfer later Thursday in a ceremony
to mark the historic transfer, it said.
The responsibility will be transferred next Tuesday.
South Korea has already taken over nine other military missions, which include
the management of a joint air-to-ground firing range, weather forecasts for the
combined forces and the guarding of the joint security area inside the
demilitarized zone.
"The transfer of the 10 military tasks has been an opportunity to improve the
strength of the South Korean forces while South Korea and the United States are
continuing to strengthen their military alliance through task-specific joint
exercises," the JCS said.
South Korea will retake the wartime OPCON of its troops from the U.S. in April
2012, which will immediately be followed by a breakup of the South Korea-U.S.
Combined Forces Command, currently headed by the USFK commander.
Washington is expected to set up a new command, tentatively named the Korea
Command, which will take charge of its 28,500 troops stationed here upon the
disbandment of the CFC, while Seoul, too, will set up a new Joint Forces Command
for its own soldiers.
The search and rescue mission is the last of 10 major military tasks whose
responsibilities will be handed over to South Korean forces before the transfer
of the wartime operational control, often called OPCON, the office said.
"As the search and rescue mission, which has been a responsibility of U.S. Forces
Korea, will be transferred to South Korean fores, the transfer of all 10 military
missions pursued since 2004 will be completed," the JCS said in a press release.
Gen. Kim Tae-young, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and USFK commander
Gen. Walter Sharp were set to validate the transfer later Thursday in a ceremony
to mark the historic transfer, it said.
The responsibility will be transferred next Tuesday.
South Korea has already taken over nine other military missions, which include
the management of a joint air-to-ground firing range, weather forecasts for the
combined forces and the guarding of the joint security area inside the
demilitarized zone.
"The transfer of the 10 military tasks has been an opportunity to improve the
strength of the South Korean forces while South Korea and the United States are
continuing to strengthen their military alliance through task-specific joint
exercises," the JCS said.
South Korea will retake the wartime OPCON of its troops from the U.S. in April
2012, which will immediately be followed by a breakup of the South Korea-U.S.
Combined Forces Command, currently headed by the USFK commander.
Washington is expected to set up a new command, tentatively named the Korea
Command, which will take charge of its 28,500 troops stationed here upon the
disbandment of the CFC, while Seoul, too, will set up a new Joint Forces Command
for its own soldiers.
