ROK uneasy about command transfer

The Republic of Korea (ROK) voiced concerns yesterday over the planned transfer of wartime operational control from the US to the ROK.

Under the current blueprint, the transfer would take place on April 17, 2012, which the ROK's conservatives argue is too early and would significantly weaken the deterrence against a potential threat from the DPRK.

The country's wartime operational control was handed over to the US-led United Nations Command at the outbreak of the 1950-53 civil war, which was later transferred to the ROK-US combined forces command.