Page 94 - 2020 Defence 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 (hereinafter referred to as “the ROK MND”) and the
Department of Defense of the United States of America (hereinafter referred to as “US 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 US DoD recognize that since the signing of the Mutual Defense Treaty
between the Republic of Korea (hereinafter referred to as “ROK”) and the United States of America
(hereinafter referred to as “US”) in 1953, the ROK–US 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 US DoD confirm that the contributions of the ROK–US Alliance are to continue into
the future, carrying on the spirit of the ROK–US 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 US 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, US Forces Korea (USFK) is to
continue to be stationed on the Korean Peninsula and firmly fulfill the security commitment to the ROK.
The ROK–US 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 bilateral guidance from the ROK and the US 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 US DoD are to continue to maintain and support the United Nations Command,

2020 Defense White Paper