Research On ROK-US Joint Military Exercises Under The Suspective Of Korean Peninsula Security

In the 2010's,the ROK-US joint military exercises have been closely interacting with the North Korean nuclear issue,thus becoming an important factor affecting the fluctuation of the situation on the Korean Peninsula.For several years,the "tit for tat" confrontation between the large-scale ROK-US joint military exercises and the nuclear and missile development of North Korea has not only seriously intensified the situation on the Korean Peninsula,but also made the peripheral security environment of China deteriorating.To ease the heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula,China proposed that the DPRK suspend its missile and nuclear activities in exchange for a halt of the large-scale ROK-US military exercises as a first step.This suspension-for-suspension proposal can bring the parties back to the negotiation table.Since 2018,the situation on the Korean Peninsula has taken a turn for the better.South Korea and the U.S.suspended or reduced the size of some of their large-scale joint military exercises,while North Korea responded by declaring it would not conduct any nuclear tests and launch intercontinental ballistic missiles.The suspension-for-suspension proposal actually has been put into action.In conclusion,the ROK-US joint military exercises not only reflect the situation on the Korean Peninsula,but also play a key role in breaking the standoff.Based on integrated use of military theories and international relations theories,and comprehensive analysis of current situation and diachronic comparison,this paper takes the ROK-US joint military exercises as the research object,making a systematic study on its development and evolution,content system,functional orientation and implementation effects.Firstly,the diachronic evolution of the ROK-US joint military exercises is systematically reviewed.The ROK-US joint military exercises started from complicated background.Internationally,the US-Soviet Cold-War was at its height.Regionally,the Korean War had just ended.Bilaterally,the ROK and the US had just entered a military alliance.Afterwards,the evolution of the ROK-US joint military exercises is closely related to the development of the ROK-US military alliance,North Korea issue and peripheral security situation.Secondly,this paper conducts a systematic analysis of the content system and functional orientation of the ROK-US joint military exercises.According to different classification criteria,such as training objects,operation frequency,participating military services and operation scale,the ROK-US joint military exercises can be classified into different types.Furthermore,the content system of the ROK-US joint military exercises can be generally summarized as follows: command post exercises combined with field maneuvers,multi-services exercises assisted with single-service exercises,regular exercises supplemented with temporary exercises.Such a large and complicated joint military exercises system can help South Korea and the US strengthen their military alliance,deal with the North Korean issue and interfere in regional security order.Thirdly,this paper gives a description of the latest adjustment of the ROK-US joint military exercises since the situation on the Korean Peninsula got better from 2018 and analyzes the motivation of the adjustment.At the beginning,South Korea and the US delayed the "Key Resolve/Foal Eagle" exercise in exchange for the suspension of North Korea's nuclear and missile development during the Pyeongchang 2018 Winter Olympic Games,which broke the stalemate on the Korean Peninsula.Soon afterwards,South Korea and the US cancelled some of their major joint military exercises to create good mood for the inter-Korean and DPRK-US summits.In the end,the "Key Resolve/Foal Eagle" and the "Ulchi Freedom Guardian" exercises was replaced by two joint command post exercises and some military exercises organized by the South Korean troops independently.These above-mentioned adjustments are mainly promoted by factors as follows.First,the North Korea has actually possessed nuclear weapons,which forces South Korea and the US adjust their policy toward North Korea.Second,divergence of views grows between South Korea and the US in their alliance relation.Third,boundary powers such as China and Russia have actively exerted influence on this issue.These latest adjustments of the ROK-US joint military exercises show the same regulation with its previous evolution.Finally,this paper evaluates the effects of the ROK-US joint military exercises by analyzing the interaction between North Korea and ROK-US around the exercise issue.North Korea has strongly opposed the ROK-US joint military exercises through a variety of ways,such as diplomatic condemnation,war preparations,breaking off negotiations and military provocation,which not only heightened the tensions on the Korean Peninsula,but also promoted South Korea and the US to redefine the value of their joint military exercises.When dealing with the North Korean issue,the ROK-US joint military exercises works as a measure of both deterrent strategy and coercive strategy.Large-scale military exercises contribute to the effectiveness of military deterrence at the strategic level by showing off great military power and a strong will of war,but at the tactical level they cannot help reduce regional armed conflicts between the two Koreas.In addition,the deterrent effects will only passively maintain the predicament on the Korean Peninsula,but it is difficult to help break the deadlock.Furthermore,the coercive nature of the joint military exercises can hardly force North Korea to make changes.On the contrary,it intensified the "tit for tat" confrontation between North Korea and ROK-US,pushing the Korean Peninsula to the brink of war.