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Except for the Uri Party chairman, all said they would “re-examine” the issue, but with different caveats: Park would do so "depending on the security environment and other conditions the next administration faces.” Lee said if the conclusion “turns out to have a major impact on the security of our nation and the national economy.” Sohn said if it “would hurt our national interest and the bilateral alliance" and Goh if it “brings about problems." However, Kim said, "The basic principle is to deal with the matter in a way that respects the bilateral agreement. If any corrections are needed, they can be made at the time when we withdraw wartime operational control, taking into account the situation at the time.”

From left, Kim Geun-tae, Park Geun-hye, Lee Myung-bak, Sohn Hak-kyu, and Goh Kun

Asked if they consider the current system, where Seoul and Washington jointly exercise wartime operational control of its troops, a violation of Korea’s sovereignty, all except Kim agreed it was not. On the question whether they thought the time was ripe to seek sole wartime operational control right now, the four also agreed it was “premature.” "It is true that wartime operational control is related to our nation's sovereignty, but that does not mean our sovereignty has been violated thus far because of it,” the ruling-party chairman said. He added the official government line that it is “more appropriate to speak of ‘withdrawal’ rather than ‘exercising sole wartime operational control,’ and the time is ripe for us to seek the withdrawal.”

Asked about the 2012 deadline, Park said it was “too short.” Lee: "We should not hasten the matter.” Sohn: "This should not lead to a vacuum in our security." Goh: "The more important thing is to come up with an alternative to the Combined Forces Command between Seoul and Washington.” Kim would only say this was “a matter that should be dealt with in consultation between relevant officials of both countries.”

Retired military officers read a statement against Korea’s takeover of sole wartime operational control of its troops, in Seoul on Wednesday.

Meanwhile, retired Army, Navy and Air Force officers on Wednesday issued a statement against the plan to take over sole wartime operational control of Korean troops. The move comes after former defense ministers and other senior members of the nation's military issued their own statement on Aug. 10, urging the government to seek approval from the National Assembly if it is to push ahead with the plan. The meeting was attended by some 70 representatives of 10 organizations of retired officers, including graduates of the nation's Army, Navy and Air Force Military Academies.

"Pushing ahead with the plan … at this critical juncture when security risks on the Korean Peninsula are growing would end up colluding in the schemes of North Korea, whose aim is to throw the U.S. Forces in Korea out of the peninsula,” the statement said. "The government is fundamentally endangering our security and economy by linking wartime operational control with national pride or sovereignty in the name of promoting independent defense.” They said Korea “successfully dealt with the issue of national pride and sovereignty by taking back peacetime operational control in 1994.” The former officers urged the government not to discuss the issue with the U.S. in the upcoming Security Consultative Meeting in Washington in October.

(englishnews@chosun.com )