Lee Jae Myung reiterates desire for full command back in Seoul’s hands after Donald Trump cuts joint exercises, citing warm ties with Kim Jong-un
South Korea’s president has renewed his push to regain independent control of the military from the US in the event of war and urged faster progress in acquiring nuclear-powered submarines after Donald Trump’s order to cut joint drills.
On Sunday night, Trump instructed the Pentagon to “substantially reduce” this week’s joint military exercises with South Korea, saying the nuclear-armed North “has been unthreatening and respectful” and that the US president had a “very good relationship with Kim Jong-un”.
Lee Jae Myung said on Tuesday that Seoul should proceed without disruption with the planned transfer, during his term, of wartime operational control, or Opcon, of South Korean forces from the US – a goal he and the government have long held.
I mean it’s still rather unlikely for North Korea to be able to handle South Korea on their own. North Korea has half of South Korea’s population, far less industry and is technologically considerably behind. Their main advantage (which admittedly is pretty good) is that they can turn Seoul into a crater at any moment which is an unacceptable risk for South Korea. But that doesn’t mean NK will have a great time in war either.
I’m not speaking solely about the Korean peninsula. The same could be said for any country’s relation with the United States at the moment. Israel, Iran, Saudi Arabia, the Taliban, China, Russia, Yemen…