As the Korean War remains a ceasefire, such as status of United States Forces Korea (USFK) or US-SK exercise is more suitable than RIMPAC in discussion on US and SK alliance.
On October 20, 2018, the US announced suspension of Vigilant Ace that was to occur December 2018 (a large-scale exercise designed to enhance the interoperability of the US and SK Air Forces through combined and joint combat training) [1, 2].
On November 26 2018, US Ambassador to SK, Harry Harris, threatened that if SK disturbed the denuclearization of NK process, the US would withdraw the alliance with SK [3].
On July 30, 2019, the US State of Secretary, Michael Pompeo said, in exchange for denuclearization of NK, the US would provide a new set of security arrangements amounting to a withdrawal from the alliance with SK) [4].
On June 2nd-3rd 2019, the relocation of the US-SK Combined Forces Command (CFC) Headquarters from Seoul, transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of Korean forces from US to Seoul and denial of restore of suspended U.S.-South Korea military drills were announced. It suggested future withdrawal of possible US-SK alliance [5, 6].
[1] https://thediplomat.com/2018/10/us-announces-suspension-of-vigilant-ace-2018-exercise-with-south-korea/, by Ankit Panda, THE DIPLOMAT paysite, October 20, 2018. The US Announces Suspension of Vigilant Ace 2018 Exercise With South Korea.
[2] https://business.nikkei.com/atcl/report/15/226331/120600206/?P=4 , T Suzuoki, Dec/07/2018, Nikkei Business. According to Japanese experts, US personnel said “We do not fight together with SK military anymore. Then, joint exercise is meaningless.”
[3] , Nov 28, 2018. On November 26, the testimony of the grand prize of the 2018 Korean Unification Contribution Award was revealed. (snip) It (=Ambassador’s speech) is interpreted as the point that there should be no lifting of sanctions and inter-Korean dialogue without denuclearization. Ambassador Harris said, “I will tell you one last time.” “Our (ROK) alliance is firmly maintained, We shouldn't take this for granted. ”(snip)
[4] https://www.state.gov/secretary-of-state-michael-r-pompeo-with-buck-sexton-of-iheartmedia/ Michael R. Pompeo, Secretary Of State, Sheraton Maria Isabel Hotel, Mexico City, Mexico, July 22, 2019. MICHAEL R. POMPEO: In exchange for that (=denuclearization of NK), President Trump’s been very clear: We’re prepared to provide a set of security arrangements that gives them comfort that if they disband their nuclear program, that the United States won’t attack them in the absence of that; and second, a brighter future for the North Korean people. That’s the outlines of the agreement that Chairman Kim and President Trump have made. We now need the North Korean negotiators to begin to build out on those principles that the two leaders have set forward.
Explanation ( https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2019/07300559/?all=1&page=3 , by T Suzuoki, DAILY SHINCH, July 30, 2019 “A security arrangements that gives them comfort “ is a commitment of non-attack by USA suggesting withdrawal of US-SK alliance.
They (SK Defense Minister Jeong Kyeong-doo and acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan on Jun/03/2019) agreed to relocate CFC, now at the U.S. Forces Korea's Yongsan Garrison base in Seoul, to the US Camp Humpheys in Pyeongtaek, citing operational efficiency.(snip)
At the US SK Defense Ministers' meeting, Shanahan and Jeong agreed on the early transfer of wartime OPCON of Korean forces to Seoul, and the relocation of the South Korea-U.S. CFC to Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi Province, as opposed to the SK Defense Ministry compound in Yongsan, Seoul, which was discussed in 2018.(snip)
Explanations ( https://www.dailyshincho.jp/article/2019/06071730/?all=1 , by T Suzuoki, DAILY SHINCH, July 7, 2019): "Unlike NATO Treaty (chapter 5), there is not clause of automatic intervention in the Mutual Defense Treaty Between the United States and the Republic of [South] Korea. Relocation of CFC reduces possibilities of military conflict between US and NK where intervention by US military needs time-consuming approval by President or Congress. Relocation of CFC to means withdrawal of key military intervention of US Army and cursory support by Navy and Air Force in emergency. The early transfer of wartime operational control (OPCON) of Korean Forces from US to Seoul suggests reduction of USFK, because, in US law, small number of US military can be under the foreign commander."
[6] https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-military-southkorea/acting-pentagon-chief-says-no-need-to-restore-suspended-us-south-korea-military-drills-idUSKCN1T30BT , by Idrees Ali, AFP, June 2, 2019. SEOUL (Reuters) - Acting US Defense Secretary Patrick Shanahan said on Sunday that for now it was not necessary to resume major joint military exercises with South Korea that were suspended in the last year to support diplomatic efforts with North Korea.
Anonymous