Lieutenant General Xavier T. Brunson, who is poised to assume the triple-hatted position also overseeing the Combined Forces Command (CFC) and United Nations Command (UNC), if confirmed, stressed the need to strengthen defense against North Korea's growing threats, in pre-written answers to questions for a confirmation hearing at the Senate Armed Services Committee.
"I am aware of the threats South Korea faces and fully understand my role, if confirmed, is in ensuring a constant state of readiness for all forces on the peninsula. Most assuredly, I understand the need to defend the homelands," Brunson said. "North Korea's rapid advancement of its nuclear and missile capabilities, combined with its stated ambition to exponentially expand its nuclear arsenal is the single greatest challenge facing the Tri Commands," he added.
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "could also use nuclear weapons in an attempt to deter the United States or UNC Member States from becoming involved in a conflict on the Korean Peninsula," he speculated. "As Kim's confidence in his nuclear arsenal grows, he may increasingly be willing to employ higher risk conventional military options, believing that nuclear weapons will deter a U.S. or [South Korea] response."
Brunson also warned of North Korea's increasing military cooperation with Russia and China, calling the partnership "authoritarian collusion."
"The exchange of lethal aid between [North Korea] and Russia is a thing to be alarmed about. But most importantly, what we have to do is see what's coming back in. I think we also have to be cognizant of the opportunities that we have because there might be a fissure between China and [North Korea] now that they are looking toward Russia," he pointed out.
As for the need for the presence of American troops in South Korea, he wrote, "A minimum force level of 28,500 is essential for USFK to sustain and operational plans depend on that baseline of capability and capacity."