Posted on 05/22/2005 8:26:12 AM PDT by TigerLikesRooster
May 24, 2005 -- Contingency plans for a military response to a collapse of the North Korean regime ¡ª an issue that caused a diplomatic flap between Seoul and Washington earlier this year ¡ª were quietly discussed by U.S. and South Korean officials this month at a three-day meeting of the United Nations Command in Seoul, the JoongAng Ilbo has learned.
No firm policy decisions were reached at the closed-door sessions, which took place May 10 to 12 at Yongsan Garrison, according to a participant in the meeting, who characterized it as essentially a brainstorming session. The meeting was titled the United Nations Command Special Operation Force Component Conference.
The U.S.-led UN Command invited military officials and civilian experts from both the United States and South Korea to discuss operational plans for coping with any sudden changes in North Korea. The participant said talk largely centered on containing whatever nuclear, chemical and biological weapons and missiles the North has.
Last month, it was revealed that the Roh Moo-hyun administration had halted work on a joint U.S.-South Korean contingency plan, codenamed Operation 5029, for responding to a collapse of the regime in Pyongyang. The Roh administration raised concern that the plan could threaten South Korean sovereignty, since the United States would lead any joint military action. But Seoul later offered to resume the discussions.
According to the participant who spoke to the JoongAng Ilbo, U.S. experts on Korea at the meeting said a military response to regime collapse should be under the banner of the UN Command, and should consist mostly of South Korean units, so as not to provoke Chinese intervention.
Participants agreed that China, North Korea's main ally in the region since the Korean War, should be allowed to participate in humanitarian missions, but should not be allowed to send military forces.
There was also agreement that officials from the United Nations, or its nuclear watchdog, the International Atomic Energy Agency, should handle the North's weapons of mass destruction, assuming they prove to exist, and that a UN-led force could be sent to protect North Korean refugees.
by Kim Min-seok < myoja@joongang.co.kr >
Ping!
OHHHHH that getting good if turn out Chia Pet feeling roney
You can count on it.:-)
Sounds reasonable to me. Keep the Fascist PRC out of a Korean problem.
Re # 4 & 5
I don't think China's going to care for it much either.
I can't believe they continue to have leaks out of meetings like this. Obviously some people think this is a damn game or photo op.
:)
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