National Assembly Resolution to Prevent Relocation of CFC and UNC

One hundred forty seven lawmakers from both ruling and opposition parties will pursue a resolution to stop the plan to move the ROK-U.S. Combined Forces Command (CFC) and United Nations Command (UNC) at the Yongsan base to locations south of the Han River.

National Assembly members, including those from the Grand National Party, the Millennium Democratic Party, and the United Liberal Democrats, held a press conference yesterday at the National Assembly building, and said that they “decided to pursue a National Assembly resolution to prevent the headquarters at the Yongsan base from moving and to urge normalization of the ROK-U.S. relations.”

The representatives added, “Recently the government has behaved as if it actually has accepted the U.S. plan to move the CFC and UNC, considering, for example, the announcement from the Ministry of Defense spokesman that there would be no problem even if the CFC and UNC moved.”

“Relocation of the two headquarters to south of the Han River means absolute abandonment of the USFK’s capability to defend the capital and thus leaves Seoul without security,” asserted the lawmakers. The USFK stands for U.S. Forces Korea.

One hundred twenty seven GNP lawmakers, eight MDP members, one Uri Party member, 10 ULD lawmakers and one Democratic People’s Party member signed the resolution. Representatives will submit the resolution to the National Assembly before a bill authorizing additional troop dispatch to Iraq is handled.

Min-Hyuk Park mhpark@donga.com