Page 382 - 2018 Defense White Paper

Appendix 16
Guiding Principles Following the

Transition of Wartime Operational Control

October 31, 2018

(Purpose) After the decision between the Presidents of both nations in 2017 to “expeditiously enable the
conditions-based transition of wartime operational control (OPCON) of ROK forces”, the Ministry of National
Defense of the Republic of Korea (hereafter referred to as “the ROK MND”) and the Department of Defense
of the United States of America (hereafter referred to as “U.S. DoD”) have formulated the following Alliance
Guiding Principles in order to maintain a strong combined defense posture after the transition of wartime
operational control.

(Preamble) The ROK MND and U.S. DoD recognize that since the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty
between the Republic of Korea (hereafter referred to as “ROK”) and the United States of America (hereafter
referred to as “U.S.”) in 1953, the ROK-U.S. Alliance, built on mutual trust as well as shared values of liberal

democracy, human rights, and rule of law, has served a critical role in the security, stability, and prosperity
of the Korean Peninsula and the Asia-Pacific Region.
The ROK MND and U.S. DoD confirm that the contributions of the ROK-U.S. Alliance are to continue into
the future, carrying on the spirit of the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty to prevent armed conflict on the
Korean Peninsula, promote peace and stability in Northeast Asia, and contribute to global peace.
Together in this recognition, the ROK MND and U.S. DoD mutually approve the following Alliance Guiding
Principles in order to maintain a reinforced combined defense posture even after the transition of wartime
operational control.
As a symbol of the commitment pursuant to the Mutual Defense Treaty, U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) is to
continue to be stationed on the Korean Peninsula and firmly fulfill the security commitment to the ROK.
The ROK-U.S. post-OPCON transition Combined Forces Command and its subordinate combined
component commands are to be established to deter external aggression and, if deterrence fails, to defend
the ROK.
The post-OPCON transition Combined Forces Command is to operate as a separate standing entity, and
receive strategic direction and operational guidance from a Military Consultative Committee which receives

380 Appendix