§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the United Nations Security Council has regularly been informed about the activities in South Korea of the UN military commander there and whether it or the Secretary General has at any time expressly approved exercises in South Korea involving nuclear-capable forces and bombers, such as "Team Spirit".
§ The Minister of State, Foreign and Commonwealth Office (Baroness Chalker of Wallasey)The Commander in Chief of the UN forces reports regularly to the United Nations Secretary General on the activities of the UN Command and the UN Military Armistice Commission. The United Nations Command does not carry out training exercises in the Republic of Korea. Such exercises are carried out under bilateral defence agreements between the Republic of Korea and its allies and are consistent with the terms of the Armistice Agreement.
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Whether the armed forces of the Republic of South Korea are currently under United Nations command, whether the UN commander is, and always has been, a United States general; and if so, whether they consider that the Republic of South Korea enjoys full sovereignty and is a fully independent state.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyThe sovereignty and independence of the Republic of Korea were recognised by the United Nations in 1947 and it was to defend that sovereignty and independence that forces from several United Nations member states, including the United Kingdom, fought in the Korean conflict against North Korean and Chinese forces. The conflict ended in 1953 when an armistice was signed between the United Nations on the one hand and the forces of North Korea and China on the other: continued North Korean intransigence since then has prevented the armistice being replaced by a peace treaty. Until such time, and in accordance with the terms of the armistice, the United Nations command will remain in Korea and the armed forces of the Republic of Korea will remain under United Nations command in respect of all actions relating to the maintenance of the armistice. This agreement does not apply to any action that the armed forces of the Republic of Korea may take for other purposes.
The Commander in Chief of the UN forces has so far always been a United States general.
2WA
§ Lord Kennetasked Her Majesty's Government:
Why, when South Korea became a member of the United Nations, was control of its armed forces not restored to its own government, and when will it be so restored.
§ Baroness Chalker of WallaseyIt is a matter of both regret and concern that over 40 years after the signing of the armistice agreement, continuing North Korean intransigence means that the United Nations Command remains in Korea. A more co-operative and less hostile attitude on the part of North Korea to its neighbours and to the world at large would be of considerable benefit to stability and security in North East Asia, not to mention to North Korea's own prosperity.