Bitchin’ B.B. Bell

USFK Commander B.B. Bell is again making news, this time for expressing concern [Yonhap News, Korean] about South Korea’s plan to reduce its military manpower by 46 percent by 2020.

Speaking before a House Armed Services Committee hearing [Gen. Bell's full testimony, .pdf file], Bell said:

The ROK National Assembly passed a reform bill aimed at reducing total force levels, overhauling the command and control structure, and fielding high-tech weaponry. The force reductions will take place over the next 13 years and will reduce overall (active and reserve) forces from about 3.7 million to about 2 million – a cut of 46%. In this, the total Army (active and reserve) ground force reduction will be about 45%. It is our hope that the Republic of Korea carefully consider these large force cuts unless they are matched by similar north Korean reductions. Additionally, the ROK Government has initiated a reduction in the length of service for its conscript Army, from 2 years to 1 1/2 years. This approach could stress the number of available conscripts from the population, or result in either hollowness or smaller units. This change to ROK draft / conscription laws should be carefully weighed against the threat postured along the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ). Successful ROK execution of Defense Reform Plan 2020 will require both legislative and budgetary support from their government, and close coordination with the United States through Alliance consultative processes. The ROK troop reduction and changes in conscription laws must not negatively impact deterrence on the Korean Peninsula against the postured threat.

He also piqued interest [Yonhap News, Korean] with his observations about young Koreans:

The South Korean government views a nuclear armed north Korea as an intolerable threat, and that a catastrophic collapse in the north would have extremely adverse consequences in the South. However, ROK perceptions of the north Korean conventional threat vary, especially among younger generations. As memories of American sacrifices in the Korean War fade, Korean citizens, seeking what they see as a more equal Alliance relationship, question the importance of our long-standing Alliance. Many raise the issue of ROK sovereignty, and a desire for what they characterize as more self-reliance and independence. These generations, while not necessarily anti-American, have strong political views which are increasingly expressed in national policy.

And in other USFK news, Yonhap and the netizens at Naver.com have taken note [Yonhap News, Korean] of the Army’s recent changing of its regulations so as to prevent soldiers from extending their tours in Korea to avoid heading to Iraq or Afghanistan. Now, soldiers who haven’t done tours in Iraq or Afghanistan since September 2001 are allowed only a single one-year extension in South Korea [Stars and Stripes].