Friday, June 18, 2010
In a sign that Washington is taking seriously the heightened tensions on the Korean peninsula, the United States’ top military commander in South Korea will take back control of an annual military exercise between American and Korean forces.
U.S. General Walter Sharp, head of the Combined Forces Command, will retake control of the Ulchi Freedom Guardian, the world’s largest computer war game, which simulates an attack from North Korea on South Korea.
American commanders had relinquished control of the annual exercise in 2008 and 2009, but the recent sinking of a South Korean ship by the North prompted the U.S. to reassert its leadership over the war game.
If North Korea invaded South Korea, Sharp would command not only the 28,500 American troops stationed in the country, but also a force of 650,000 South Koreans. But as of April 2012, South Korean commanders are scheduled to assume control of their military forces in the event of war.
-Noel Brinkerhoff
US Takes Control of SKorea War Game (Agence France-Presse)
U.S. Raises Its Role in Joint Military Drill (by Song Sang-ho, Korea Herald)
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