By Jim Garamone
DoD News, Defense Media Activity
WASHINGTON, February 23, 2016 — Tensions on the Korean Peninsula are the highest he has seen in his time in command of the Combined Forces Command, Army Gen. Curtis M. Scaparrotti told the Senate Armed Services Committee today.
Scaparrotti added that the “semi-war status” in August “was highest tension that we have seen probably since 1994.” In August, North Korea placed mines that wounded two soldiers on the South Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone. The incident escalated to an exchange of artillery before North Korea took responsibility for the incident.
The general, who also commands U.S. Forces Korea and the United Nations Command, said he is concerned that “in a provocation, much like we had in August, both sides had very high alert status, and that there could be a miscalculation. And then with a response, it would be … hard to control that situation.”
In August, the United States and South Korea “stood shoulder-to-shoulder and de-escalated the situation,” he said.
Still, he added, “it could have spiraled out of control, and [this] demonstrates why we must be ready to ‘fight tonight’ on the peninsula.”
Supports THAAD
The general also told the Senate committee that he supports stationing the Theater High Altitude Area Defense system in South Korea. North Korea tested a nuclear weapon in January and launched a satellite into orbit Feb. 7. The launch is seen as a way to test intercontinental ballistic missiles.
It is clear, the general told the committee, that North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un wants his country to be accepted as a nuclear nation, with a valid missile capability to deliver those assets.
“[Kim] said that despite the international sanctions, that he will continue to develop his nuclear and his missile capabilities, and despite our deterrence, as you have seen, he has continued to do so,” Scaparrotti said.
Scaparrotti said he worries that Kim’s risk calculation will be wrong at some point, and “that is what I worry most about.”
Alliance Getting Stronger
The U.S.-South Korean alliance is strong now and is getting stronger, the general said. The two countries have emphasized combined capabilities, which include establishing the first U.S.-South Korean combined division, the rotation of additional U.S. forces to the peninsula, the execution of annual combined training exercises and steady progress on the $10.7 billion plan to relocate U.S. forces in Korea.
“Furthermore, the Republic of Korea has improved its capabilities with the recent establishment of the Korean Air Missile Defense System Center and the Allied Korea Joint Command and Control System,” Scaparrotti said.
South Korea has invested in modern military equipment, such as purchasing the F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, Global Hawk, Patriot advanced capable capability, three missile upgrades as well as AH-64 Apache helicopters.
“These alliance advances help counter the real and proximate the North Korean threat,” Scaparrotti said. “North Korea continues to conduct provocations and to resource its large conventional force. And of greater significance, North Korea continues to aggressively develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles, in direct violation of the U.N. Security Council resolutions.”
Needs ISR Assets
Scaparrotti said intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance assets remain his top readiness challenge. It is also imperative, he added, for the alliance to establish a layered and interoperable ballistic missile defense.
“We must maintain an adequate quantity of critical munitions to ensure alliance supremacy in the early days of any conflict on the peninsula,” Scaparrotti said. “This requirement is further amplified by the approaching loss of cluster munitions, due to the shelf-life expiration and the impending ban.”
The alliance also must focus on command, control, communications, computers, and intelligence, the general said.
“Both the United States and the Republic of Korea are investing in new tactical equipment that will comprise a reliable C4I architecture, but much more is required,” he said.