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U.S. Defense Secretary of Donald Rumsfeld recently told Seoul the U.S. wants to hand over wartime operational control of Korea's armed forces in 2009, it emerged Sunday. That signals tough negotiations ahead since Korea¡¯s proposed date is 2012.
Rumsfeld wrote to his Korean counterpart Yoon Kwang-ung on Aug. 17 saying Washington plans to hand over wartime operational control to South Korea in 2009, a government official said. It was the first time the U.S. defense chief has officially confirmed the open secret.
A government official said Rumsfeld mentioned 2009 because of the timetable for the U.S. Forces Korea¡¯s move from Seoul¡¯s Yongsan to Pyeongtaek, which is to be completed by the end of 2008, and the dismantlement of Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Command. That suggests the U.S. plans to cut the cost of relocating USFK headquarters by leaving the CFC out of the list of bodies to be moved from the start. The CFC will become obsolete once Korea exercises sole operational control of its troops. The move will also facilitate Pentagon plans to revamp the USFK.
In the letter, Rumsfeld also proposed that two allies divide the upkeep cost of the USFK at an "equitable" rate, which pundits say means 50:50. Korea currently shoulders slightly less than 40 percent of the cost. He also pressed for a new bombing range for the USFK to replace a facility in Maehyang-ri that was shut down, and expressed hope that the two sides can sort out their differences over who should pay for the environmental cleanup at bases the USFK is vacating.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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