Abolish the war plan to invade N. Korea!
Restore the operational control authority!

a press conference for denouncing OPLAN 5027

On Oct. 10, during the annual National Assembly's inspection of the Ministry of Unification, Congressman Kwon Yong-gil (Democratic Labor Party) disclosed the crucial details of Operation Plan 5027, which aims to "annihilate N. Korean forces", "eliminate the N. Korean government", and "create the conditions for unification". 
As Congressman Kwon revealed today, the "Strategic planning guide for the joint military committee of ROK-US Defense Ministers for S. Korea-US Combined Forces Command operation planning" is a document signed by both Defense Ministers on Dec. 5, 2002.  The contents of the document prove that the ROK-US authorities have been telling lies when they claimed that OPLAN 5027 is just a defense plan.

SPARK held a press conference at the building of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) in order to point out the illegality and danger represented by the document.

Oh Hye-ran, the vice-director of SPARK's anti-USFK division, said, "It is a very serious problem that Rumsfeld and Lee Jun, US and ROK Defense Ministers, officially agreed to 'annihilation of N. Korean forces', 'elimination of the N. Korean government', and 'creation of the conditions for unification'."

She asserted, "It is not only unconstitutional because the Korean constitution seeks peaceful unification, but also overturns the Korean government's policy of peace and reconciliation."

In addition, she continued, "The strategic planning guide for further development of Concept Plan 5029-05, which was devised under pressure from Washington, will be agreed on at the ROK-US Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) on Oct. 21.

ConPlan 5029-05, which enables the ROK-US Combined Forces Command to intervene militarily even in N. Korea's internal affairs, is absolutely contrary to our government's policy of peace and prosperity."

As Yoo Yong-jae, director of SPARK's anti-USFK division, explained the reason for the press conference, he pointed out the 3 most serious problems of the "Strategic Planning Guide", signed by the ROK and US Defense Ministers.

The first problem is OPLAN 5027's aggressive stance toward N. Korea. He said, "It is obviously an invasion plan because its fourth article calls for, , 'annihilation of N. Korean forces', 'elimination of the N. Korean government', and 'creation of the conditions for unification'. This violates the ROK-US Mutual Defense Treaty which permits only defensive operations against an attack from the North.  

Second, OPLAN 5026 was amended to include preemptive precision strikes on the N. Korean command and control systems. OPLAN 5026 was completed in July 2003 in accordance with "the Strategic Planning Guide" so that a preventive or preemptive attack plan was created.

Third, 5026, 5027 and 5029 were linked  together. This is the way they could function in practice, for example: The US claims that the North is preparing to attack and as a result, the US launches preemptive strikes on the North (according to OPLAN 5026). Then, if the North counterattacks, they will wage a total war in order to eliminate the N. Korean government (according to OPLAN 5027); or even if the North does not counterattack, they will intervene militarily in North Korea (according to ConPlan 5029).

He explained why these plans were made: because the Korean defense authorities gave in to the US's pressure although they knew how serious the plans were. 
He expressed his outrage, "It absolutely infuriates me that the Defense Minister agreed to the extremely dangerous war plans, which could result in the annihilation of both parts of Korea.", and emphasized his strong determination to "fight not only for the abolition of OPLANs, but for the restoration of operational control authority, elimination of the ROK-US combined command system and ultimate termination of the ROK-US alliance."

SPARK concluded the press conference by announcing their plan for activities next week. They will organize joint press conferences and rallies to protest against Rumsfeld's visit to Seoul on Oct. 20. They will strongly demand that Rumsfeld, who will take part in the SCM,  totally abolish the aggressive OPLANs for preemptive attacks on N. Korea and return the operational control authority to the ROK.