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President Roh Moo-hyun on Wednesday said Korea is capable of exercising sole wartime operational control of its troops “even if we get it back now.” In an interview with the Yonhap news agency, the president said, “The South Korean military's capability is sufficient and it can get U.S. military support." The remarks pour oil on the flames of controversy by suggesting that what Seoul calls the “withdrawal” of operational control will be possible to achieve even before the 2012 timeframe the government has set. Scores of foreign and security affairs experts including 13 former defense ministers say even 2012 is unfeasible.

President Roh Moo-hyun talks to reporters from the Yonhap news agency on Wednesday.

Roh appeared to be parrying such criticism by saying Korea aims “to take back operational control by 2012 because our armed forces have a goal of evolving into one of the best in the world in terms of capability, but we don't have any big problem with exercising operational control in wartime even before the set time.” The president indicated Korea’s ability to defend itself was underestimated, adding it is advisable the country takes back control of its military to coincide with the time the U.S. Forces Korea completes relocating its troops to Pyeongtaek. He suggested that view was why the U.S. was talking about an even earlier deadline of 2009. The envisaged date for the relocation is 2008.

“Still, there are lots of things to discuss” including ongoing protests against the new USFK headquarters “and I think their relocation to the Pyeongtaek base will eventually happen in 2010 or 2011,” he said.

Roh downplayed fears that the handover of wartime control would reduce the USFK presence further, saying any cuts will happen due to “technical adjustments." “We don't have to worry too much. U.S. troops will be continuously stationed here, and the number does not have any decisive meaning. The quality-based capacity is important,” he said. Asked about problems with military intelligence, for which the country now mostly relies on the U.S., if Korea exercises sole control of its forces, he asked, "How can an alliance exist without such cooperation?"

The president also reiterated that a rift in the Korea-U.S. alliance is being overplayed by conservative critics. "The U.S. and the U.K. are very close allies, but they wrangle when differences come up," he said. "Does the public want the president of Korea to say yes to every request from the U.S.?"

Turning to the planned free trade agreement with the U.S., Roh said the sooner it is concluded, the better. "I hope that the trade deal is completed under the trade promotion authority (TPA) from the U.S. Congress,” which grants the president sweeping powers over trade legislation for a limited time and expires on July 1 next year, he said. If so, FTA negotiations would have to be completed by the end of March.

(englishnews@chosun.com )