During a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Security Conference in Singapore on Saturday, Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld agreed to improve and develop “Concept of Operations Plan (CONPLAN) 5029,” which includes plans for a joint response to sudden changes in North Korea, but not to put the plan into “operation plan (OPLAN)” format.
During a meeting on the sidelines of the Asia Security Conference in Singapore on Saturday, Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang-ung and U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld agreed to improve and develop “Concept of Operations Plan (CONPLAN) 5029,” which includes plans for a joint response to sudden changes in North Korea, but not to put the plan into “operation plan (OPLAN)” format.
The apparent compromise solution seems to have settled differences between the allies over Seoul’s decision the scrap OPLAN 5029 at the 11th hour. A concept plan, unlike an operational plan, includes no specific provisions for things like deployment of military units.
The ill-fated OPLAN 5029 also started its brief life as a concept plan covering five possible sudden changes in North Korea, including civil war. Work on more concrete responses in OPLAN 5029 started later, but early this year Korea’s National Security Council pulled the plug over concerns that it could violate South Korea’s sovereignty.
A Defense Ministry official on Sunday portrayed the Singapore agreement as a sign that the U.S. is accepting Korea’s position. Rumsfeld said in a press conference his meeting with Yoon had been an opportunity to firm up the Korea-U.S. alliance. The defense ministries of the two nations plan to hand down “strategic guidelines” for the improvement of the new concept plan to the Korean Joint Chiefs of Staff and the U.S. Forces in Korea.
Meanwhile, a high-ranking U.S. Defense Department official on Sunday hinted Washington could soon decide to refer the North Korean nuclear dispute to the UN Security Council. He said his government was “deeply considering” the matter and a decision would be reached within the next couple of weeks.
Rumsfeld earlier drew attention with strong criticism of China as well as North Korea when he told the meeting of the Asia Security Conference, sponsored by Great Britain’s International Institute for Strategic Studies, that Pyongyang’s nuclear ambitions were a threat to world security.
