KORGAD: Exercise Maximum Diplomacy on Deployment of ROK Forces to the Strait of Hormuz and Stop the Attacks on the U.S. Ambassador

2020-1-23, Statement of the KORGAD (Korean Retired Generals & Admirals Defending the Nation)

The government’s decision to deploy Republic of Korea (ROK) Naval Forces to the Strait of Hormuz was inevitable. The ROK­-U.S. alliance remains vital to our security, and the Strait of Hormuz  is a strategically critical sea pathway through which one­ third of the world’s oil and natural gas and 63% of South Korea’s oil imports pass. Given the vital importance of the alliance and oil supply, the decision was natural and unavoidable.

In the meantime, the prolonged emotional attacks on the U.S. Ambassador Harry B. Harris do not serve our security interests, especially in the increasingly treacherous security environment. South Korean government officials and politicians need to review the Moon administration’s urge to unilaterally lift sanctions against North Korea, its non-­participation in the U.S. Indo­-Pacific Strategy, the sloppy investigation of the trespassing of the ambassador’s residence by the Korean college students, etc. It is only appropriate that they keep level-headedness before they criticize Ambassador Harris.

Therefore, KORGAD urges as follows:

First, we welcome the government’s decision to send ROK forces to the Strait of Hormuz. Definitely, we need to protect our ships passing through the strait, restore trust in the alliance through actions consistent with security sharing principles, and at the same time protect our relations with Iran. We urge the government to exercise a high-degree of diplomatic skill to achieve these multiple objectives.

Second, we regret that some government officials and ruling circle politicians continue to attack the ambassador of our ally to create emotional disputes, and deplore the fact that some journalists have joined the  smear campaign against him, thus harming the alliance. The Moon administration should refrain from attacking the ambassador and do its best to maintain friendly relations with the U.S. embassy. The South Korean government should be mindful that Ambassador Harris is a top ­ranking security expert, who participated in the first and second Gulf Wars and the war in Afghanistan and has commanded the U.S. 6th Fleet, the U.S. Pacific Fleet, and U.S. Indo-­Pacific Command (USINDOPACOM). The government should take note that his presence as the U.S. ambassador can be of great help to the Republic of Korea’s national security. // (end)