Admiral Robert Willard, Commander U.S. Pacific Command, last week briefed media ahead of Key Resolve/Foal Eagle, an annual joint exercise between US forces and South Korea's military.
The past 12 months has seen a South Korean warship, ROKS Cheonan, sunk – 46 sailors were killed – and North Korea shell Yeonpyeong Island, killing two Marines and two civilians.
“Provocations in the past by the North Korean regime have ranged from assassination attempts against the Blue House to downing of Korean airliners to conventional attacks into South Korea, such as occurred last year with Cheonan and the Yeonpyeong Island attack,” Willard said.
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“It's obviously very difficult to predict what the next one can be, so what we will do is we'll plan for it, attempt to shore up any vulnerabilities that we see, and deter and certainly message Pyongyang that a next provocation will have serious consequences.”
When I asked how Australia's military fits into the region, Willard said its role is essential and has “international impact”.
“The role of Australia is many-fold,” said Willard.
“Australia has a very small armed force by comparison to the United States, and yet they have international impact. They have served in every conflict with the United States since World War I and we continue to support one another in many, many ways.
“So I regard the Australian armed force as being essential to the region and stabilising within the region. It also, because of its position in the sub-region Oceania, has an obvious view up into the Indonesian Archipelago and out, into the broader regions of the South Pacific, Oceania, such that it maintains many partnerships in that region and contributes to the overall security of both the island nations as well as working very closely with Indonesia.
“Australia plays a huge role throughout the U.S. Pacific Command AOR [Area of Responsibility], and are a great ally and partner.”
In July, Australian and American military will hold Talisman Sabre, a biennial exercise at locations in the Northern Territory and Queensland.
Willard sees the vast Asia Pacific region as vitally important to U.S. interests (it's unlikely he'd say different as this is his area of responsibility, after all).
“It not only remains the center of gravity for global prosperity at the moment, but I think will continue to do so into the foreseeable future,” he said.
North Korea – what it might do next – remains the regional (very serious) joker in the pack.
“2010 was a very difficult year with regard to provocations… and that has caused us to view very intently at North Korea with regard to a next provocation,” said Willard.
