U.S. Forces Korea Commander and Korea-U.S. Combined Forces Commander Jay B. Brunsen noted on the 9th (local time) that "the joint operational plan (OPLAN) signed last year has made significant progress in combat readiness."
Commander Brunsen conveyed this in a statement submitted ahead of a hearing held by the U.S. House Armed Services Committee on security challenges in the Indo-Pacific, which took place in Washington, D.C. The Korea-U.S. operational plan serves as the military strategy underlying the joint exercises and is treated as classified. The new operational plan is believed to include responses to North Korea's nuclear use.
Commander Brunsen explained, "To respond to North Korea's weapons of mass destruction (WMD) and missile capabilities, the new operational plan is designed to further enhance the readiness of the combined command before any armed conflict."
At the hearing, U.S. military commanders and senior officials from the Ministry of National Defense emphasized the strategic value of the Korea-U.S. alliance, including U.S. Forces Korea, while discussing the need for expanded burden sharing among allies in the Indo-Pacific, including South Korea.
In response to the question, "What benefits does the presence of U.S. Forces Korea bring to the Korean Peninsula?", he replied, "What I see is that we currently have a 'positional advantage.'"
He emphasized that U.S. Forces Korea provides a strong deterrent in the Korean Peninsula and Northeast Asia, and introduced that the U.S. military has established an integrated regional defense posture with South Korea, Japan, as well as other countries forming the United Nations Command (UNC).
Commander Brunsen also emphasized that the multilateral partnership through the Korea-U.S. alliance and the United Nations Command (UNC) will play a key role in maintaining stability and deterring regional tensions from escalating into a global crisis.
Brunsen stated that U.S. investment in South Korea returns benefits to the U.S. He noted in a statement submitted to the House that "South Korea has supported 450,000 U.S. jobs and over 2,100 U.S. companies located in Korea and the U.S., while militarily, South Korea's contributions have reduced U.S. military expenditure by 18%."
Regarding the situation in North Korea, he assessed that contrary to predictions of collapse due to food shortages, North Korea is more stable than ever and indicated that it would seek to secure hypersonic glide vehicle (HGV) and multiple independently targetable reentry vehicle (MIRV) capabilities in the future.
Acting Deputy Minister of Defense for Indo-Pacific Affairs John Nodo emphasized the need for expanded burden sharing among allies, including South Korea. He stated, "To reestablish deterrence in the Indo-Pacific region, the Ministry of National Defense will focus on strengthening our military posture throughout the region, empowering our alliances and partners, and increasing burden sharing to address all threats."
Additionally, Commander Paparo reported that the number of North Korean troops deployed to Russia has reached at least 12,000, with over 4,000 casualties.
He further stated that he believes North Korea is seeking to obtain space launch vehicles, military satellites, attack drones, missile technology, and advanced submarine propulsion technology from Russia in return.
The hearing also discussed responses to the threat from China in depth. Acting Deputy Minister Nodo noted, "It is well known that Chinese President Xi Jinping has ordered the military to be prepared to invade Taiwan by 2027," and assessed that "the seriousness of the threats posed by China is rapidly increasing."
He emphasized, "President Trump has said that China would not attack Taiwan during his tenure," and that efforts to urgently strengthen deterrence against China's aggression in the Indo-Pacific region should be prioritized.
Commander Paparo assessed that "China is developing and integrating advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence, hypersonics, and advanced missiles at an astonishing pace."