[사진출처 = 연합뉴스]-Former USFK commander Burwell Bell was concerned that “if the opposition transition is enforced, the risk of being subjugated to North Korea increases.”
In a statement sent to the Voice of the United States (VOA) on the 10th, former Commander Bell, who commanded the USFK in 2006-2008, said in a statement that “Operational transition will be a historical mistake for the Korean people.”
He emphasized that “as long as North Korea has nuclear weapons, neither South Korea nor the United States should pursue opposition shift.”
He added, “If the opposition is switched and war breaks out, there is a high possibility that the dispatch of US troops will be severely restricted.”
If the United States does not properly act as an allied partner, while China fully guarantees military assistance to North Korea, North Korea is likely to ultimately defeat South Korea in war, he explained.
In particular, former Commander Bell analyzed that “South Korea has no meaningful alliance other than the United States,” and that “if there is no United States, South Korea must face North Korea alone.” On the other hand, North Korea said it could get full support from Russia other than China.
He stressed, “As long as the US provides a’nuclear umbrella for Korea,’ OPCON should remain in the US,” he emphasized. “I strongly recommend Korea to postpone the OPCON transition completely and commit to a security alliance with the US.”
[이상규 매경닷컴 기자 [email protected]]
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