The Trend of Strengthened UNC
and its Role After the Transition of
Wartime Operational Control

"Is it possible for the UNC to play the leading role in reunification?"

A recent series of incidents, including the termination of the General
Security of Military Information Agreement (GSOMIA) and the increased
sharing of defense costs, have raised concerns about the South Korea-US
relationship and the role of the UNC over the transfer of wartime
operational control between the two countries. Adjunct professor Kyung-
young Chung of Hanyang University states that “The issue with the UNC
is not limited to its role following the transition of wartime OPCON.
There is a need to comprehensively approach the role of the UNC within
the armistice structure and in the future under a peace treaty.” He
suggests that the role and function of the UNC in the future should be
established in a win-win manner for Korea and the UNC. Professor
Chung argues that by making the DMZ a peace zone and reorganizing
the five permanent members of the UNSC, the two Koreas, the member
states of the UNC, when the reorganized UNC performs its function of
overseeing the peace treaty there will be no bloodshed and it will guide
the way to reunification.  [Read Commentary]