SEOUL - South Korea recently conducted its first defense ministerial meeting with 17 member states of the United Nations Command (UNC), as reported by the Korea Herald editorial on November 17. The UNC, established under United Nations Security Council resolutions following North Korea's invasion of South Korea in 1950, remains stationed in South Korea due to the ongoing state of war, despite 70 years passing since the armistice agreement.
According to Yonhap News Agency, the UNC's continued presence is a critical deterrent against North Korea's aggression, particularly amidst growing nuclear and missile threats. The meeting in Seoul, attended by South Korean Defense Minister Shin Won-sik and US Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, underscored the collective commitment to respond to hostile acts or armed aggression threatening South Korean security. The joint statement from the meeting demanded North Korea suspend its nuclear and missile programs.
The UNC's importance was highlighted, with member states including the US, UK, France, Canada, and others who contributed combat troops during the Korean War, and Italy, Norway, and Denmark, which provided medical assistance. The meeting signified solidarity and a collective will to protect South Korea, even 70 years after the war. The UNC's role in South Korean security, often overshadowed by the Korea-US alliance, was emphasized as being essential for prompt military support without needing further UN Security Council resolutions in case of contingencies on the Korean Peninsula.
The editorial also mentioned missed opportunities during the Moon Jae-in administration to expand UNC membership. Germany's intention to join as the 18th member and Denmark's willingness to contribute combat troops were reportedly rebuffed due to procedural issues, raising criticism of trying to avoid upsetting Pyongyang. The incorporation of Germany would mean all G7 countries, except Japan, being part of the UNC.
The UNC's role in South Korean defense is deemed indispensable, and the National Defense Ministry is urged to involve defense ministers from major member states in future meetings. The Korea Herald editorial concludes with a warning to North Korean leader Kim Jong-un that any invasion of South Korea would not only be against the South but also involve 17 UNC member states.