If war broke out on the Korean Peninsula tonight, who would actually command South Korea’s military? The answer is not simply Seoul commands Seoul and Washington commands Washington. For decades, the United States has held wartime operational control of the combined allied force. Now South Korean President Lee Jae Myung says that arrangement should end early—and that South Korea is ready. That is not just a quarrel about national pride. It is a test of whether an alliance can transfer authority without transferring confusion.
In this episode:
• The president wants the command back
• Why the transfer has taken so long
• More Korean control does not mean less America
Sources & further reading:
• Lee says S Korea capable of taking back wartime command of combined US forces: https://www.aol.com/articles/lee-says-korea-capable-taking-100103000.html
• 56th Security Consultative Meeting Joint Communique: https://www.defense.gov/News/Releases/Release/Article/3951794/56th-security-consultative-meeting-joint-communique/
• Lee says S Korea capable of taking back wartime command of combined US forces: https://www.aol.com/articles/lee-says-korea-capable-taking-100103000.html
