Like it or not, alliance changes are under way

Korea and the United States last year began preliminary negotiations over the role and sphere of action of U.S. forces in Korea. The United States has asked South Korea to agree to a regional role for those troops. Washington wanted to transform its forces, which are now tied down at the inter-Korean border.
The United States cited Article 3 of the South Korea-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty as the grounds for mobilizing its forces for use in areas other than the Korean Peninsula.
The treaty says in effect that each party recognizes that an armed attack in the Pacific area on either of the parties or its territories would be dangerous to its own peace and safety and declares that it would act to meet the common danger,South Korea, however, tried to block the change.
If the radius of action of the U.S. forces in Korea were expanded, the South Korea-U.S. alliance would have to be changed from an alliance tailored to deter North Korean threats to a new alliance spanning the region. The change would be unprecedented throughout the half-century history of the alliance. Seoul now had to face the problem of stopping North Korea’s nuclear aspirations and soothing the rising public concern about the U.S. realignment plan.
In addition, Chinese scholars have raised concerns over the move.
Seoul argued that the mutual defense treaty did not include language that allowed the use of U.S. Forces Korea in areas other than the peninsula. That reportedly irritated U.S. negotiators, but the issue was eventually resolved. Diplomatic sources said South Korea conceded to the United States in allowing the USFK to play a regional role. In return, Seoul asked Washington to reconfirm its pledge to defend the peninsula even if some were sent off the peninsula during a crisis elsewhere in the region.
The understandings between the two countries were worded ambiguously in a joint communique issued after the annual security consultations in November.
The minister of national defense, Cho Young-kil, and U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld “reaffirmed the continuing importance of the strategic flexibility of U.S. forces in the Republic of Korea.” They also “concurred that the alliance will serve to bolster peace and stability in Northeast Asia and the Asia-Pacific region as a whole.”
“Just as it mobilized its marines in Okinawa for duty in Iraq, the United States intends to expand the role of its troops here beyond countering North Korea,” said Park Yong-ok, a former vice-minister of defense.
The future of the U.S. troops stationed in Korea is projected in a speech by the U.S. undersecretary of defense for policy Douglas Feith. “A key facet of transformation is realigning our global defense posture ― that is, updating the types, locations, numbers, and capabilities of our military forces, and the nature of our alliances,” he said on Dec. 3. “We are not talking about fighting in place, but moving to the fight. We are not talking only about basing, we are talking about the ability to move forces when and where needed.”
U.S. private-sector experts are even more descriptive. Michael McDevitt of the U.S. Center for Strategic Studies said it was necessary for U.S. Forces Korea to play a role in defending South Korea but, at the same time, becoming a hub for missions outside the peninsula.
Professor Yun Deok-min of the Institute of Foreign Affairs and National Security said the United States planned to transform the South Korea-U.S. alliance into a regional ― or global ― alliance. “It is a time for Korea to make a decision on the U.S. request,” Mr. Yun said.
The changes would also bring new tasks to Korea. When U.S. forces are mobilized to counter a regional conflict, Korean soldiers may have to be involved in the action as well. And bureaucratic procedures to approve the dispatch of U.S. troops to areas outside Korea are also needed. “As in Japan, we need a way to control the mobilization of U.S. troops stationed here to other areas,” Mr. Yun said.
Relations with neighboring countries are also a problem. China, in particular, is sensitive about the issue. At an international affairs seminar held in Seoul in November, Chinese scholars said the U.S. troop relocation to Pyeongtaek, south of Seoul, was a threat to China. They said China was concerned about U.S. intentions.
North Korea is also concerned. American troops are pulling back from the range of their artillery while becoming more mobile and more equipped with advanced arms.
Some experts, however, said a regional alliance was inevitable because Washington’s resolve was firm. Joel Wit, a researcher with the Center for Strategic and International Studies, said the two countries should announce a “joint declaration for the 21st century,” covering their military, political, economic and security cooperation. Unless South Korea keeps pace with the changing U.S. strategy, the two countries’ alliance may come to a crossroads. In other words, no alliance is forever.

by Oh Young-hwan, Jeong Yong-soo