Here is the transcript from a speech the USFK Commanding General James Thurman gave to the East Asia Institute conference on the ROK-U.S. Alliance at the Westin Chosun Hotel on October 21, 2011:

“A New Security Order in East Asia and the ROK-US Alliance”

Ambassador Jong (former ROK Ambassador to Japan and England), Professor Ha, Professor Chun, members of the East Asia Institute and Distinguished guests, thank you for your participation in this great event.

Professor Chun, thank you for your kind introduction and for inviting me to speak today. I am honored and privileged to speak to this distinguished group.  Your work in expanding the dialogue about Northeast Asian affairs and the importance of the ROK-U.S. Alliance provides a great service to both of our nations, thank you.

As the Commander of United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, and United States Forces Korea, I am honored to have the privilege of leading the outstanding Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen, Marines, and civilians of this command, which stands by with the great ROK military, the military element of the greatest alliance in the world, the ROK-U.S. Alliance, which only gets stronger every day.  The theme of this conference, “A New Security Order in East Asia and the ROK-U.S. Alliance,” is relevant as we look both at the dynamics of the Northeast Asia region and the future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance.

Northeast Asia is an important region for the greater global community.  This region is home to some of the largest and fastest growing economies and militaries in the world.  The countries of Northeast Asia produce one fifth of the world economic output and is responsible for 19% of world trade.  Most notably, Northeast Asia continues to be a global economic engine despite current global financial challenges that we see around the globe.

This region is also home to 4 of the 6 largest militaries in the world.  3 countries in the region possess nuclear capabilities and all the countries in this region continue to modernize their armed forces to meet current and perceived future security threats.  We are seeing countries in the region embracing efforts to attain and develop new and asymmetric technologies as alternatives to maintaining large standing militaries.

Regrettably, North Korea continues to lead this effort.  North Korea has turned to ballistic missile technology, weapons of mass destruction, and other asymmetric capabilities to meet its perceived security needs.  The United Nations Security Council and responsible nations in the region have called on the north to abandon these weapons programs.  I again call on north Korea to cease its development and testing of nuclear weapons and their means of delivery and fulfill its existing commitments to denuclearize.  I believe north Korea’s growing asymmetric capabilities increasingly threaten peninsular and regional stability.  We must remain prepared and ready to defend against and deter these capabilities.

Over the last 60 years the ROK-U.S. Alliance has grown into one of the strongest alliances in the world.  It has grown from one singularly focused on the defense of a valued ally, to one of shared intrinsic values like democracy, free-market economics, and human rights.  Last week, our tremendous Alliance became more multi-faceted through the U.S. Senate ratification of the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement.  Today, this Alliance stands very strong and it’s ready to deter aggression on the Korean peninsula and defend these values.  As always, our Alliance is prepared to fight and win if deterrence should fail.

That said, the ROK-U.S. Alliance is about much more than North Korea.  As a result of our enduring commitment to our South Korean allies and the unparalleled strategic importance of the Northeast Asia, I want to emphasize that the U.S. remains committed in the region both now and in the future.  The United States is and always will be a strategic partner with its allies and friends in this region.  The ROK-U.S. alliance is one example and a pillar of this commitment.

While our alliance is meeting the security challenges that it faces today, it is evolving to ensure that it can meet any potential security challenges in the future.  Looking ahead, we must continue strengthening and transforming our Alliance in response to current and future security challenges.  The United States fully supports our South Korean ally’s increasing initiatives to maintain international peace and stability.  We are grateful for ROK military contributions in Iraq, Afghanistan, and off the Horn of Africa.  We are also grateful for the hard-work the Republic of Korea does world-wide to eliminate poverty and disease.  We look forward to even greater cooperation on these international issues in the future.

In fact, our governments have already developed a plan to prepare for this future of greater bilateral partnership.  In June 2009, president Obama and President Lee signed and issued the Joint Vision Statement.  This statement affirms our shared common values and asserts that these shared values transcend the Korean peninsula and the region.  The Joint Vision Statement commits our countries to building a comprehensive strategic alliance of bilateral, regional, and global scope to meet this reality.

In order to implement the Joint Vision Statement, we have developed and implemented Strategic Alliance 2015.  This is a comprehensive plan that allows the Alliance to synchronize multiple key initiatives to successfully transfer wartime operational control of South Korean military forces to the chairman of the Republic of Korea Joints Chiefs of Staff.  It also synchronizes on-going initiatives using a whole of government approach to propel the Alliance into the future.

We can never overlook that in the whole of government, the military is just one piece.

Strategic Alliance 2015 includes four major components that I will highlight.  First, we continue to refine and develop realistic plans and execute exercises based on the full range of possible North Korean actions including provocations, instability, and direct attack.  Second, we are changing our ROK-U.S. organizational structures and command and control relationships by 2015.  Third, the ROK military is developing additional capabilities that will allow them to be ready for OPCON transition.  Finally, we are realizing greater efficiencies by consolidation of U.S. forces into two enduring hubs around Pyeongtaek and Daegu.

The Alliance is moving forward with the implementation of this plan.  We are well into executing the Land Partnership Plan and look forward to gaining momentum in executing the Yongsan Relocation Plan.  We continue to review these plans and all of our transformation initiatives that are currently ongoing to ensure that we are positioning capabilities in the proper location and gaining desired efficiencies.  We are ensuring that these initiatives meet the current and future needs of the Alliance.

Our exercise program is in full implementation.  We are using our exercises to confirm that our plans are valid and the proper organizational structures with proper command and control relationships are in place.  Our exercise program is of particular importance as it enables us to identify and refine capabilities, both military and civilian, which I believe is required by our great Alliance.

It is of vital importance that both of our countries invest in necessary military capabilities to be best prepared for an uncertain future.  There’s one thing I’ve learned when we try to predict the future, we get it wrong.  Under Strategic Alliance 2015, there will be no loss of any capability currently available to the Alliance.  However, as we move beyond transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean forces and look at global security cooperation, it is important that both partners have a shared commitment to building these capabilities so that we complement one another.  It is of critical importance that the ROK military have the equipment, organization, and training in place to lead the joint-combined fight.  It is imperative that the ROK possess persistent surveillance; interoperable joint command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence systems; anti-submarine and counter-mine warfare naval capabilities, and capabilities to offset asymmetric threats to ensure the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff have all the tools in their kit bag they need to lead the defense of this great nation.

Strategic Alliance 2015 is about much more than the transition of wartime operational control.  It synchronizes ongoing initiatives using a whole of government approach to propel the Alliance into the future.   Our countries need to develop and resource our whole of government capabilities. I’m specifically talking about diplomatic, informational, and economic tools are just as important as military tools in dealing with security challenges.  It is important that investment is made in the resourcing and training of these elements of national power.   They are important shaping activities, which when used concurrently, can mitigate the need for military force.  Recent north Korean provocations and attacks only serve to highlight the importance of increased capabilities across the whole of government, not just the military.  As we face challenges we should always focus on Alliance based solutions for Alliance problems.

Strategic Alliance 2015 builds upon the already unbreakable foundation of our great Alliance.  It enables our Alliance to realize the full extent of capabilities to deter or defeat north Korean aggression.  It also enables the Alliance to provide a greater contribution to peace and stability in the region and around the globe.  I think that’s critical.

This conference shows you are as committed to peace and stability on the Korean peninsula and the region as the governments of our two countries.  The ROK-U.S. Alliance is the strongest in the world and as long as I’m the UNC/CFC/USCK commander, I will do all that I can to strengthen the alliance.  Regrettably, my schedule does not allow me to stay and participate in a question and answer session.  Thank you for participating in this great event.

Kamsahamnida

Katchi Kapshida