For the future, the military is allowed to mobilize the national resources like reservists even in the “Choongmu-3 Condition” in which it is only deemed that North Korean provocations, including localized provocations, such as the artillery attack on Yeonpyeong Island, are on the increase.
“The military has been so far possible to mobilize reserve forces only when a full-scale war takes place, that is, under the Choongmu-2 Condition,” officials at the Ministry of National Defense said on July 14. “Currently under the Choongmu-3 Condition, that is, in case of localized provocations, reservists cannot be mobilized at all. Therefore, under the new rule, even in the Choongmu-3 Condition, the military can mobilize reserve forces to counter any of North Korean provocations,”
To get this new system attained, the ministry discussed it twice with other related offices, revised the National War Guide Policies and the Choongmu Plan, changed the law concerning partial mobilizing to a wartime law, and then had the Cabinet pass this new ordinance. Under the new rule, the military can mobilize reservists and vehicles that belong to the units affected by the provocations. The number of reservists and vehicles to be mobilized under the new rule tops 100,000 and 2,000, respectively. If necessary, buildings, lands, ships, airplanes, etc., also can be used.
According to the new mobilization plan, how large reservists can be mobilized can be flexibly determined by the degree of urgency of the situation. For example, if a localized provocation takes place on an island on the West Sea, that is, under the "Choongmu-3 Condition," the reservists and vehicles only around the five West Sea islands can be used. On the other hand, in case this condition seems to escalate into a full-scale war condition, those in the whole Incheon and Gyeonggi areas can be mobilized. And if the condition actually escalates into a full-scale war condition, a general mobilization order can be issued, along with an issuance of the "Choongmu-2 Condition" order.
When a partial mobilization order is issued, mobilization notices and call-up papers will be delivered to the reservists and the owners of the vehicles available within this month. The reservists committed to the emergencies are paid almost the same as soldiers on active duty are, and vehicles and other supplies are valued at the market price.
"This measure is expected to ensure a flexible maintenance of the mobilization system by extending or reducing the size of the committment depending on the degree of urgency of the situation, which contributes not only to minimizing a bad influence on the living of people, but to preparing for localized provocations and threats," an MND official said.
What is the Choongmu Drill?
The Choongmu Drill is an actual mobilization drill conducted on the basis of cities and provinces by the Ministry of Administration and Safety twice every year in order to supplement and develop wartime resources mobilization conditions. It was first named "Emergent Mobilization Drill" in 1981 which was changed in 1992 to the current name. The drill is divided into three conditions: Choongmu-1, Choongmu-2 Choongmu-3, depending on how serious a condition is. The Drill is conducted like an actual drill in four cities and provinces every year. In this respect, it is different from the Ulji Drill, because the latter is a nationwide drill fundamentally devoted to war game conducted by the government.
RoK MoD
