The Eighth U.S. Army command, which is in charge of U.S. ground troops stationed in South Korea including the core Second Infantry Division, is highly likely to be disbanded, it emerged Friday. Asked about the chances that the Eighth will be dismantled, USFK Commander Gen. Burwell Bell did not deny the possibility and indicated it will undergo a transformation. He said its role has completely changed to RSOI (Reception, Staging, Onward Movement and Integration) and is "radically different¡± than it was in the Korean War, when it served as fighting headquarters. Bell said no matter what decisions are made about the army¡¯s future, they have nothing to do with conducting wartime operations on the Korean Peninsula.
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Gen. Burwell Bell, the commander of the U.S. Forces Korea, answers questions at a press conference at the Yonsan Garrison in Seoul on Friday.
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¡°As far as I know, under the U.S. plan to transform ground troops stationed around the world, the Eighth Army will be transformed into a ¡®Unit of Employment¡¯ (UEY) merged into the U.S. Army Pacific Command,¡± a senior officer here said. Another source said the Eighth Army¡¯s transformation has nothing to do with additional reductions to the USFK.
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The 2nd Infantry Division soldiers of U.S. walk during their exercise in Paju, north of Seoul, on May 19, 2004.
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But Bell¡¯s remark may add to worries over additional reductions because of the Eighth Army¡¯s symbolic meaning. The commander also said Korea could take over wartime operational control in 2009 with the backing of ¡°bridging capability¡± the U.S. will continue to offer.
Bell said UN Command will play an important role in any emergency on the Korean Peninsula in the future and that UNC was absolutely needed to quickly deploy military force and supplies on the peninsula should war occur and secure a swift victory.
(englishnews@chosun.com )
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