(LEAD) N. Korea developing guerrilla warfare capabilities: U.S. commander

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By Sam Kim
SEOUL, June 23 (Yonhap) -- North Korea is believed to be stepping up its
capabilities to stage guerrilla warfare through the development of roadside bombs
and seditious tactics, the top U.S. commander in South Korea said Tuesday.

Gen. Walter Sharp said the bombs -- also known as improvised explosive devices,
or IEDs -- could be used against civilians as well as U.S. and South Korean
forces stationed in the rear should a full-fledged conflict arise on the Korean
Peninsula.
"I believe we will face IEDs, insurgent forces in addition to large conventional
attacks," Sharp said in a speech to a group of South Korean army personnel in
Seoul.
Tension runs high on the divided peninsula after North Korea conducted its second
nuclear test on May 25 and threatened war by scrapping the truce that ended the
1950-53 Korean War.
Sharp, who commands 28,500 U.S. troops stationed here as a deterrent against
North Korea, said South Korea and the U.S. should step up "realistic training" to
tackle these threats.
"Realistic training ensures that the Republic of Korea is fully prepared for a
thinking enemy, an enemy that will use IEDs, hide among the population and strike
our rear forces and civilians," he said. The Republic of Korea is South Korea's
official name.
"We must immediately begin to prepare the Republic of Korea and U.S. forces to
improve our capabilities in these areas," he said. "This enemy will require us to
use our weapons much more precisely, to reduce civilian casualties and collateral
damage."
Sharp, who also commands the Seventh Air Force that operates about 80 aircraft
here, said more live-fire ranges are needed to perfect the precision bombing
capabilities of South Korean and U.S. pilots.
"One of the most critical shortfalls that we experience in Korea is the lack of
realistic air force training ranges," he said, acknowledging such training would
entail "noise and inconvenience."
"But if we are to be best prepared to defeat any threat or North Korean
provocation, these sacrifices are absolutely necessary," he said. "This
deficiency affects the Republic of Korea and the U.S. Army forces the jets are
set to protect."
"North Korea is watching, and I'm convinced that discussing and demonstrating the
strength, capabilities and leadership of the Republic of Korea Army is the best
deterrence," he said. "To be silent or question the ROK Army leadership abilities
would send a wrong message to North Korea at this critical point."
samkim@yna.co.kr
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