USFK as a Pacific Logistics Hub?… Largest-Scale Exercise Conducted

[Anchor]

The leadership of U.S. Forces Korea has repeatedly stated its vision to assign USFK the role of a logistics hub for the Pacific region. Recently, the largest-scale South Korea-U.S. combined military logistics and sustainment exercise was conducted. Analysts suggest this serves as a rehearsal to transform South Korea into the central axis for war-material transportation.

Reporting by Kim Taehun, our defense specialist reporter.

[Reporter]

A modular pier and a naval ship are connected behind a large commercial ship with a black hull.

This is a drill to transport supplies and troops by installing a modular pier on the sea even if coastal ports are absent or destroyed.

Along the coast, a large-scale modular pier is deployed, allowing even large trucks to land with ease.

Amphibious vehicles that function as transport ships at sea and trucks on land are also mobilized.

This was the Korea-U.S. Combined Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore exercise held in the areas of Pohang, North Gyeongsang Province, and Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, over four days until the 16th.

A total of 4,400 South Korean and U.S. service members were deployed, along with some 600 pieces of equipment, including ships and aircraft.

[Frederic Crist / Assistant Chief of Staff for Logistics, CFC: When the use of fixed ports is unavailable, the South Korean and U.S. armed forces act as a single team to conduct training on transporting troops, supplies, and equipment from sea to land.]

This largest-ever logistics and sustainment exercise was carried out amid the USFK leadership's vision to transform USFK from a force tied solely to the Korean Peninsula into a logistics and sustainment hub for the Pacific region.

USFK Commander Brunson emphasized that logistics and sustainment are not the tail of deterrence but the teeth at the core, while Eighth U.S. Army Commander Hilbert made the following remarks regarding the hub role of USFK.

[Andrew Hilbert / Eighth U.S. Army Commander (Last May, LANPAC Symposium): If the 19th Expeditionary Sustainment Command (of USFK) focuses solely on supporting the U.S. Eighth Army on the Korean Peninsula, it would be a tragic waste of resources that the entire Indo-Pacific joint force could utilize.]

Some analysts interpret a "180-degree flipped East Asia map" produced by USFK as the blueprint for its Pacific logistics hub.

South Korea and the U.S. plan to continue the sustainment exercise on a biennial basis, with analyses suggesting it is a "rehearsal" to materialize the USFK hub plan.

(Video reporting: Kim Hyunsang, Video editing: Jung Yonghwa)

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