Page 79 - 2018 Defense White Paper

bilateral guidance from the ROK and the U.S. national command authorities.
The national authorities of the ROK are to appoint a General or an Admiral to serve as the Commander of
the post-OPCON transition Combined Forces Command, and the national authorities of the United States
are to appoint a General or an Admiral to serve as the deputy commander of the post-OPCON transition
Combined Forces Command.
The ROK MND and U.S. DoD are to continue to maintain and support the United Nations Command,
which has served the function of preventing armed conflict on the Korean Peninsula, and develop the
mutual relationships between the ROK Joint Chiefs of Staff, the post-OPCON transition Combined Forces
Command, USFK, and the United Nations Command.
The ROK MND is to continue to develop capabilities to lead the combined defense, while the U.S. DoD
provides bridging and enduring capabilities for the defense of the ROK.
The ROK MND is to expand its responsibilities in deterring external aggression, while the U.S. DoD
continues to provide extended deterrence.
The ROK MND and U.S. DoD are to engage regularly in consultations even after the transition of wartime
operational control in order to strengthen the combined defense posture.
Therefore, together in the recognition that the combined defense structure following the transition of
wartime operational control serves to strengthen further the peace and security on the Korean Peninsula
provided by the ROK-U.S. Mutual Defense Treaty, the ROK MND and U.S. DoD commit to strive towards
developing the Alliance in a mutually reinforcing and future oriented manner.

Appendix 381