S. Korea, U.S. hold joint workshop for top intelligence officers

SEOUL, Dec. 2 (Yonhap) -- South Korea and the United States were holding a joint workshop Tuesday for their top military intelligence officers to prepare them for the upcoming transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean troops, participants said.

The Senior Intelligence Officers' Brief started Tuesday morning at the defense
ministry and involves some 30 officials from each side. It will continue until
the afternoon.
The first session of the meeting will focus on the outcome of a joint exercise of
South Korea-U.S. combined forces, Ulchi Freedom Guardian (UFG), held in August.
Wartime operational control, often called OPCON, of South Korean troops will be
transfered to Seoul in 2012, allowing South Korea to take full command of its own
troops for first time since the end of the 1950-53 Korean War.
This year's UFG sought to test, also for first time, Seoul's ability to take
control of its troops during a war.
Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, who currently has wartime
control of South Korean troops, has said the joint exercise was very successful.
"UFG highlighted that the Korean military is world-class and fully capable of
defending their nation. OPCON transfer will afford them that opportunity with the
U.S. fighting by their side in a strong supporting role," Sharp had said.
Tuesday's meeting seeks to find ways to promote increased intelligence
cooperation between the two allies following the 2012 transfer, ministry
officials said.
In the second session, participants will discuss ways to establish a joint
military intelligence management system, allowing the sides to freely exchange
and share high-level information, they said.