ROK-U.S. forces start joint drill
코리아헤럴드 | 기사입력 2008.08.18 11:20
The South Korean and U.S. armed forces will today start Ulchi Freedom Guardian, an annual joint military exercise based on computer simulated war games, the Combined Forces Command said.
This year will mark the first drill with the South Korean war-fighting headquarters in the forefront while the United States plays a supporting role.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Tae-young will command the South Korean forces while Gen. Walter Sharp, Commander of the United States Forces Korea will lead the U.S. troops.
The commander of the United States Forces Korea had led both the South Korean and American forces up to last year.
The new roles were designed to prepare for the 2012 transfer of wartime operational control to South Korean forces, the CFC said in a press release.
President Lee Myung-bak is to preside over special National Security Council and Cabinet meetings to check up on the Ulchi drill.
"The president is expected to request the government to maintain water-tight security levels since the exercises come at a crucial time when concerns for national security and public safety have peaked on account of a series of sensitive incidents such as the tourist killing at Mount Geumang," Cheong Wa Dae said.
The UFG is a command post exercise of the two militaries that demonstrates their joint war scenario, Operation Plan 5027.
It was developed in 1994 to evaluate and improve crisis action measures as well as procedures for the allies` war plan to increase the CFC`s ability to defend against external aggression.
The UFG was previously called the Ulchi Focus Lens.
The name change was agreed in July last year based on the view that the drill should reflect the new military structure under which South Korea will lead all training exercises with operational control of its and American armed forces.
North Korea has persistently condemned the Ulchi exercises as allied preparations for invasion despite the defensive nature of the drill.
By Kim Ji-hyun
This year will mark the first drill with the South Korean war-fighting headquarters in the forefront while the United States plays a supporting role.
Joint Chiefs of Staff Kim Tae-young will command the South Korean forces while Gen. Walter Sharp, Commander of the United States Forces Korea will lead the U.S. troops.
The commander of the United States Forces Korea had led both the South Korean and American forces up to last year.
The new roles were designed to prepare for the 2012 transfer of wartime operational control to South Korean forces, the CFC said in a press release.
President Lee Myung-bak is to preside over special National Security Council and Cabinet meetings to check up on the Ulchi drill.
"The president is expected to request the government to maintain water-tight security levels since the exercises come at a crucial time when concerns for national security and public safety have peaked on account of a series of sensitive incidents such as the tourist killing at Mount Geumang," Cheong Wa Dae said.
The UFG is a command post exercise of the two militaries that demonstrates their joint war scenario, Operation Plan 5027.
It was developed in 1994 to evaluate and improve crisis action measures as well as procedures for the allies` war plan to increase the CFC`s ability to defend against external aggression.
The UFG was previously called the Ulchi Focus Lens.
The name change was agreed in July last year based on the view that the drill should reflect the new military structure under which South Korea will lead all training exercises with operational control of its and American armed forces.
North Korea has persistently condemned the Ulchi exercises as allied preparations for invasion despite the defensive nature of the drill.
By Kim Ji-hyun