Tracking Number: 379666
Title: "Luck Underscores US-Republic of Korea Defense Alliance."
Remarks by Gen Gary Luck before the Senate Armed Services Committee regarding the US commitment to South Korea's security. (950216)
Date: 19950216
Text:
*EPF409
02/16/95
LUCK UNDERSCORES U.S.-REPUBLIC OF KOREA DEFENSE ALLIANCE
(Text: Luck 2/16/95 testimony before Senate panel) (2610)
Washington, Feb. 16 -- In a statement to the Senate Armed Services Committee on February 16, General Gary E. Luck, U.S. Army Commander in Chief of the U.S. Forces in Korea, reaffirmed the vitality of U.S.-Republic of Korea security ties:
Following is the text of his remarks as prepared for delivery:
(begin prepared text)
Mister Chairman and members of the committee:
It is a distinct honor to present my views on the security situation on the Korean Peninsula. Our discussion today is most opportune since it addresses important security implications for the United States (US), the Republic of Korea (ROK), and our other friends in Asia. I share your concern that we need to fully understand the security environment, with all its challenges and opportunities. We must all have a clear vision of one of the most dynamic regions of the world.
Before we begin today's discussion, I wish to express my gratitude for the firm support that Congress has shown United States Forces Korea. You have always had the prudence to understand that the world is still a dangerous place, and much uncertainty and instability remain on the Korean peninsula. Your actions to resist abrupt troop and budget cuts in Asia have reassured our allies and also warned our potential adversaries of America's steadfast support and commitment to the region. Recent security events prove the wisdom of preserving a responsive American troop presence in Asia and having a deliberate strategy of strength and vigilance to deter aggression and promote regional stability. We have reached a critical juncture in this important theater. As you know, the current security climate mandates that we not merely think or talk tough, we must actually be strong and ready to handle any military situation that might suddenly arise.
We must note from the outset that peace and stability in Northeast Asia are most important to the security and economic well-being of the United States. Our history and geography make the United States a Pacific power with major political, military and economic interests in the region. These interests are especially critical to our future since the balance of economic power continues to rapidly shift toward Asia. The Asia-Pacific region is now our largest trading partner and a huge market for American exports. Future American economic growth and well-being will be derived from close interaction with Asia's powerhouses -- China, Japan, and the ROK. United States security strategy in Asia must be guided by our own national interests and regional realities. The Asia-Pacific region will be the World's most dynamic and powerful region in the 21st Century. Therefore, the United States must continue to be an important player in regional security activities.
American military strength and commitment to Northeast Asia helps promote the region's notable economic growth. A credible forward-deployed military presence provides for the peace and stability essential to the formation and expansion of healthy economic markets and democratic institutions, while permitting us to share in important regional security decisions. Moreover our military presence helps to deter a war that could destroy the viability of the region as a major market for American products and services. Since successfully stopping Communist aggression on the Peninsula in the early 1950's, we have maintained a strong defensive military posture in the ROK to prevent a renewed military attack from North Korea (NK). Combined Forces Command (CFC), United Nations Command (UNC) and United States Forces Korea (USFK) constitute a strong military force -- combined defensive force characterized by readiness, professionalism, discipline and vigilance. I am pleased to report that our security relationship with the ROK, which has successfully served both nation's vital national interests for over forty years, is still actively focused on clear mutual security objectives: deterring the outbreak of war on the Korean Peninsula and not allowing NK to intimidate its progressive neighbors in Northeast Asia. However, if deterrence should ever fail, ROK and US forces are ready and able to defeat NK aggression and achieve favorable war termination objectives.
North Korea still poses a serious threat to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. North Korean military forces are organized and deployed to accomplish their long-standing strategic objective of reunifying the Peninsula under NK rule. Regrettably, NK remains an isolated, overly distrustful state that has demonstrated in the past that it is prepared to attempt to use military power to intimidate its peaceful neighbors. The dramatic changes sweeping the world over the past few years have deprived NK of most of its former allies, weakened its economy, and discredited its ideology. North Korea is now run by a failing communist regime that is in a period of hazardous uncertainty as it faces a complex dilemma: its ailing economy is headed for collapse if it does not accept significant reform and opening to the outside world, but such change may ultimately spell doom to a regime based upon a closed, tightly controlled society. Although NK has stated that it prefers peaceful reunification, its actions indicate that it intends to possess a viable military option in case it cannot negotiate reunification on what it considers acceptable terms. For this reason, we must keep the ROK-US bilateral relationship strong and prepared for any eventuality.
The security situation in Korea remains quietly tense and dangerous. The build-up and forward deployment of NK conventional military forces along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) continues despite notable recent events, the sudden death of NK's long-time dictator Kim Il-Sung, the dynastic succession of Kim Jong-Il, and the Agreed Nuclear Framework reached between NK and the United States. North Korea still masks most of its internal activities from outside observation. However, there is convincing evidence that NK continues to promote military strength over basic economic, political and social development. As a result, NK remains one of the most militarized countries in the world.
The North has heavily fortified the DMZ and deployed the majority of its active ground forces within close striking distance of the ROK capital of Seoul. Despite a deteriorating economy and several years of poor harvests, NK still continues to protect and give the highest priority to its military. In addition to an expensive quest for nuclear weapons, NK stubbornly expends its dwindling national resources to mechanize its ground forces, expand its artillery formations, enhance the world's largest special operations force, and enlarge its ballistic missile arsenal. This massive, forward deployed force goes well beyond legitimate defensive needs. Moreover, NK has continued over the past two decades to assume a hostile offensive posture toward the ROK by gradually shifting military forces south. Forward-deployed NK forces have gradually increased from about 40 percent of active duty combat forces to around 65 percent.
Today, as in the past, a ROK-US combined defense team stands ready to successfully counter any offensive military or terrorist action by North Korea. A close security relationship between the US and the ROK proved ail defense effort during increased tensions last summer and it remains the central focus of Korea's deterrence posture. Our complex security environment demands mutual understanding and frequent, in-depth consultations between the ROK, and US military and government staffs on the Peninsula. We continue to work very hard at all levels to build upon a record of close personal and professional relationships that are key to making the defense system work effectively. These relationships serve as the linchpin between the defense establishments and executive agencies of our two separate nations. The recent security crisis illustrated once again the importance of maintaining a clear understanding of the support actions each nation must accomplish. We reconfirmed a number of substantial security relations' imperatives: political and economic events must move forward in close concert with military planning activities; advance warning and substantial prior planning is invaluable when coordinating a military reinforcement of the Korean Peninsula; and close relationships amongst senior ROK and US military officers and with the civilian leadership are needed to "grease the wheels" of a complex and slow moving security apparatus.
North Korea's strategy continues to focus on trying to drive a wedge between the US and the Republic of Korea, to obtain two of their long standing goals: the withdrawal of US forces and an end to the ROK-US security alliance. Until NK completes a wide-range of substantial political, economic and military confidence-building measures, and quits its confrontational towards the ROK, the ROK-US alliance must remain highly energize and clearly focused on the North's potent military capability.
I am pleased to report that the ROK continues to be a superb military ally. The ROK fields a large, well-trained, relatively well-equipped, and professionally-led military force and steadily invests significant sums to increase its overall war-fighting capability. An active and strong combined ROK-US defense team is focused on the NK threat and working closely on improvement in defense plans and warfighting strategy, tactics, and support procedures. The morale and spirit of ROK and US forces in Korea remain high, and the joint and combined military planning staffs have effective working relationships. ROK force improvement plans also continue at a steady pace. The ROK is modernizing and improving its forces with the addition of more powerful and mobile tanks, long-range and self-propelled artillery, multiple rocket launchers, armored personnel carriers, advanced aircraft and helicopters and coastal defense ships. ROK ground force capabilities continue to improve with the formation of more mechanized and armored units, and all ROK military services continue to conduct more combat-driven training and exercise scenarios.
Republic of Korea defense spending remains substantial. Defense spending over the past five years has represented between 22% and 26.3% of the ROK national budget or between 3.3% to 3.8% of ROK gross national product (GNP)(US Embassy figures). Historically, the ROK has ranked near the top of all US allies in its share of GNP allocated to defense. The ROK defense budget is growing due to an expanding economy and future defense budgets will most likely outpace inflation. The ROK has also habitually devoted a significant portion of its population to defense with universal conscription and a strong reserve training program. The ROK has more than 650,000 personnel in uniform (roughly one-third of US levels, with a population less than one-sixth of the US) and has reserve forces much larger than our own. The ROK also buys a considerable amount of US weapon systems and spare parts -- over 3.5 billion dollars in the past five years or about 83% of all foreign military spending by the ROK. Although the ROK military budget totals $12.6 billion for CY94, we must remember that ROK GNP measures only $360 billion, only slightly more than the US defense budget.
Republic of Korea cost sharing contributions are impressive. The ROK continues to rank near the top of all US allies in regards to overall cost sharing support. The ROK has made substantial progress in assuming a greater portion of the costs associated with maintaining US forces in Korea. The ROK recently pledged $300 million in direct cost sharing support or close to one-third of USFK's stationing costs for 1995. This vital support is applied to construction, logistics, and local national labor requirements. The ROK also provides a substantial amount of indirect support through tax exemptions, the provision of rent-free land and facilities, and reduced rates for utilities. A conservative estimate of ROK indirect support would place its value at over $1 billion. The overall level of ROK cost sharing support has grown steadily over the years and we are working to reach an agreement this year that will provide for an even greater contribution in the future.
Total ROK Direct Cost Sharing Support
1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 $45M $70M $150M $180M $220M $260M $300M
In view of the continuing threat posed by NK, there is a continuing need for major US-funded construction programs for facilities and infrastructure in Korea. Morale and readiness are both negatively impacted when military personnel have to live in inadequate housing, eat in substandard dining facilities and work on expensive equipment in temporary facilities. Unfortunately, over a third of USFK facilities are over 25 years old and our infrastructure has deteriorated and is subject to failure. The ROK has done a great deal to assist us in this vital area, but additional US funding is needed to maintain morale and readiness. This is especially true given the fact that approximately 50 percent of American forces in Korea have inadequate living, dining and work facilities. The US military construction funds we received in fiscal year 1995 were greatly appreciated and put to immediate use an array of badly needed projects. Continued US military construction funding is a prudent investment in our readiness, our military personnel and our overall security commitment to the ROK. Funds for Patriot and Apache fielding in fiscal year 1995 were also appreciated. Full support for our operating accounts, including OPTEMPO and facilities/barracks maintenance and repair, is also essential.
The Korean Peninsula is still troubled by many serious security problems, but an opening now exists for NK to set aside its isolationism, take concrete steps to reduce regional tensions, and eventually join the community of nations. Unfortunately, there is no quick or easy fix to the substantial security issues that divide us. However, NK does have another opportunity to restart dialogue with the ROK and to undertake some meaningful confidence-building measures to help reduce tensions. Implementation of the Agreed Framework is a long process with a number of critical milestones. It is not based on trust, and we will continue to monitor closely North Korean compliance with the terms of the Agreed Framework. If NK abandons its commitments, the world should consider appropriate measures to reverse NK noncompliance, including the possibility of sanctions.
While carefully measured diplomatic and commercial initiatives are pursued in the region, military strength and vigilance are vital prerequisites. The stakes are just too high to risk doing otherwise. Although we would certainly prevail during any war in the region, the price in human lives and monetary costs would be staggering. That is why we must carefully weigh and fully appreciate the grim consequences of nuclear or conventional conflict in the region -- enormous death and destruction, the wreckage of a vibrant economy, floods of refugees, and huge reconstruction costs. The cost of deterrence through strength and vigilance is a great bargain by comparison.
The foundation is laid for careful optimism about the future in Northeast Asia. However, a variety of complex, long-standing security issues still remain. A good plan of action is being implemented to deal with these issues, one that emphasizes engagement and deterrence. Our goal is peace and stability in the region. The key to reducing tensions and building mutual trust and understanding is dialogue coupled with positive action. We certainly hope that NK will live up to its obligations and that diplomatic and economic initiatives succeed, but our hope must also be coupled with a determined resolve to watch, verify and place more value on NK action than rhetoric.
The ROK-US security relationship, one of our oldest policy cornerstones in Asia, remains vitally important. Regardless of what relationship might evolve between Washington and Pyongyang in the near future, the US must remain fully committed to this mutually beneficial alliance. Thankfully, the ROK-US security alliance remains stronger and more capable than ever during these fluid and uncertain times.
(end prepared text)
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File Identification: 02/16/95, EPF409
Product Name: Wireless File
Product Code: WF
Keywords: LUCK, GARY/Speaker; KOREA (SOUTH)-US RELATIONS; SECURITY ARRANGEMENTS;
SENATE ARMED SERVICES CMTE; CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY; KOREA (NORTH)/Defense & Military; KOREA (SOUTH)/Defense & Military
Document Type: TXT
Thematic Codes: 1EA
Target Areas: EA
PDQ
Text Link: 379666
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