S. Korea-U.S. alliance will grow stronger with OPCON transfer: USFK chief

By Byun Duk-kun and Kim Boram
SEOUL, Nov. 13 (Yonhap) -- The joint defense capability of South Korea and the
United States will continue to grow stronger despite the scheduled dismantlement
of the Combined Forces Command (CFC), which has been the vanguard of Seoul's
defense structure for the past three decades, the U.S. head of the CFC said
Thursday.

The CFC is set to be disbanded in 2012 when Seoul reclaims wartime operational
control of its troops from Washington, a move that will leave the top American
commander here with control of U.S. troops only.
"We must be sure to recognize that the pending transformation is aimed at
increasing the defense capabilities of this alliance," said Gen. Walter Sharp,
who also heads U.S. Forces Korea, in a ceremony marking the 30th anniversary of
the CFC.
At the ceremony, the CFC was presented with a message from South Korean President
Lee Myung-bak, who said the combined forces were a symbol of not only the South
Korea-U.S. alliance, but also peace and prosperity in Korea and throughout all
Northeast Asia.
"The two countries will continue to develop their strong alliance while closely
working together to defend their mutual interests and world peace," the president
said in a congratulatory message read by Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee.
Sharp replied it was no wonder how South Korea and the U.S. have been able to
develop what he called "the world's strongest alliance" with such support from
Seoul's leaders.
"This alliance has stood strong. Today the Combined Forces Command is the
vanguard of the most effective alliance in history," he said.
"The ROK-U.S. alliance will be even stronger...and will continue to secure peace
on the Korean Peninsula and throughout all Northeast Asia for generations to
come," Sharp added, referring to South Korea by its official name, the Republic
of Korea.
bdk@yna.co.kr
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