Seoul conveys concerns over USFK commander's comments on operational control; US says it 'fully understands'

UNC clarifies Brunson's DMZ remark did not alter South Korean sovereignty

Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha answers lawmakers' questions during a National Assembly Defense Committee national audit of the Army headquarters held at Gyeryong base in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, on Monday morning. [Yonhap]
Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha answers lawmakers' questions during a National Assembly Defense Committee national audit of the Army headquarters held at Gyeryong base in Gyeryong, South Chungcheong Province, on Monday morning. [Yonhap]

Army Chief of Staff Kim Gyu-ha said Monday he "cannot agree" with a remark by USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson suggesting that South Korea begins at the southern fence of the Demilitarized Zone. The South Korean government has also conveyed its concerns to Washington over Brunson's recent public comments on the DMZ and wartime operational control, and the US side is said to have responded that it fully understands and shares those concerns.

Kim made the remarks during a National Assembly Defense Committee national audit of the Army at Gyeryong base in South Chungcheong Province, after Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker Min Hong-chul asked whether he agreed with Brunson's DMZ comment. "I think one should be careful with such remarks," Kim said, adding that he could not agree with them.

Kim nonetheless urged a cautious overall assessment of Brunson, saying his comments should be viewed in their full context. Responding to a separate question from Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Byung-joo, he said the Defense Ministry and the Army held a firm position on territorial sovereignty, but that Brunson's remarks needed to be examined in their broader context and intent.

"When I have met Commander Brunson in person, he has shown a deep attachment to the defense of the Republic of Korea," Kim said. "In terms of the Korea-US alliance and the military-to-military relationship, I think a measured and restrained assessment of Commander Brunson is warranted."

The government has also formally registered its concerns. Seoul conveyed its views to Washington through multiple channels regarding Brunson's recent public statements, and the US side is said to have replied that it fully understands and shares those concerns. The government also raised concerns over his suggestion that the benchmarks for determining whether conditions for an operational control transfer have been met could change.

The controversy stems from remarks Brunson made at a think tank seminar in Washington on Wednesday. Brunson, who simultaneously serves as USFK commander, UN Command commander and Combined Forces Command commander, said while discussing DMZ management: "Where does the Republic of Korea begin and where does it end? From the UNC perspective, the Republic of Korea begins at that southern fence line." He went on to explain that South Korea begins there because he manages the DMZ to maintain the armistice.

At the same seminar, Brunson also addressed the transfer of wartime operational control, saying, "None of us can say the conditions haven't changed," and adding, "The conditions have changed, we've changed our plans, so there are new standards we have to meet."

As the territorial sovereignty controversy grew, the UN Command issued a clarification on Sunday, stating, "There is no question about the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea." It said Brunson's remarks were intended to explain the responsibilities assigned to the UN Command commander under the Armistice Agreement regarding the DMZ and the Joint Security Area.

"These responsibilities are military and administrative in nature, do not alter the sovereignty of the Republic of Korea, and the remarks were not intended to address the issue of South Korean sovereignty," the UNC said. South Korea's Ministry of National Defense also characterized Brunson's comments as "the personal view of the UN Command commander" and said the Defense Ministry's position on South Korea's territorial sovereignty "remains firm."


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