| Summary/Abstract |
The “transfer of wartime OPCON” from the United States to the Republic of
Korea, in conjunction with the termination of the obsolete Armistice Agreement,
may provide a unique opportunity for the Alliance to simplify and streamline
its command and control (C2) processes. The C2 structure in South Korea is
complicated by the coexistence of four distinct theater-level commands, the ROK
Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), United States Forces Korea (USFK), the Combined
Forces Command (CFC), and the United Nations Command (UNC), all of which
have a unique command structure and set of objectives. As the ROK continues
to grow stronger, both economically and politically, the four commands are
experiencing increasing difficulties synchronizing competing government policies.
The U.S. and ROK governments’ aptitude to address policy differences have a
direct impact on the ability of the four commands to achieve their end-states,
both individually and as a cohesive unit. This paper demonstrates that through the
reorganization of the Combined Forces Command and the elimination of conflicting
responsibilities emanating from the United Nations Command, the U.S.–ROK
Alliance could become more formidable by increasing simplicity, the unity of
command, and the span of control of the current C2 structure.
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