From its inauguration onwards, the Lee Administration has set the following key goals: restore the traditional relations with the US: share the values of free democracy and market economy: and furthermore, transform the existing ROK-US Alliance into a Strategic Alliance contributing to the global peace throughout the political, economic and social spectrum. During the Summit Talks held at April 2008, the two nations of the ROK and the US have agree to have the Alliance stride forward and become a "21c Comprehensive Strategic Alliance". Such an Alliance will partake in promoting peace and prosperity, not only at the regional level, but also at the global level. In accordance with the agreement, the "Joint Vision for the Alliance of the ROK and the US", a document bearing the future-oriented blueprint for the Alliance, was adopted on June 2009. With this document, the both nations of the ROK and the US will maintain the firm defense posture by having US continue on with the Extended Deterrence inclusive of the Nuclear Umbrella. Also, the two nations set forth their determination to establish resolute peace on the Korean Peninsula and also to pursue peaceful unification with basis on free democracy and market economy.
The ROK Defense Minister and US Defense Secretary, during the 37th SCM back at October 2005, agreed to "appropriately expedite discussions on the Wartime OPCON Transition", thus setting the discussions to full course. At the ROK-US Summit Talks of September 2006, the two summits consented to the basic principles of the transition. The final agreement to have the transition take place until 17 April 2012, was reached at the ROK-US Defense Minister-level Talks held back at February 2007. From the moment it came to power, the Lee Administration has thoroughly inspected preparations for the transition and conducted in-depth review on the issue of adjusting the timeline, designating "assessment and adjustments on the appropriateness of the transition" as one of the key national policy tasks. Also, during the ROK-US Summit Talks held in Toronto on 26 June 2010, the two summits made an agreement to adjust the timeline from 17 April 2012 to late 2015, taking into consideration prevailing security environment and strategic situation of the two nations. Respecting the existing agreed future command relationship between the two nations, the agreement reached between the two summits, assures stable management of the security situation on the Korean Peninsula and integrity of the transition per se, and contribute to resolving popular concerns pertinent to security situations in the midst of the transition. Moreover, based on the resolute confidence and the spirit of the Alliance two nations manifest, the agreement serves as a sound footing to further consolidate the Alliance relations. For the first time ever, the Alliance held the talks between the Ministers of Defense and Foreign Affairs and Secretaries of Defense and State in Seoul on July 2010. The talks provided a venue to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the Korean War and to look back at the 60 years of the Alliance. More importantly, in regard to the adjustments made on the OPCON Transition time line, discussions took place to devise new sets of plans for the transition and arrange follow-on measures for its implementation. During the 42nd SCM held at 8 October 2010, the Defense Minister and Secretary provided concrete directions, such as Strategic Alliance 2015. Defense Cooperation Guidelines and Strategic Planning Guidance, to simultaneously conduct OPCON Transition and address impending Alliance agendas, with the intent to deter North Korea, thus giving birth to a new Alliance framework.
Regarding the transition tasks up to the point where the adjusted timeline has been agreed upon, the following achievements thereof are worthy of notice: the foundation was shaped for the establishment of a new Combined Defense System: amendments were made to compensate for the limitations stemming from the changes in the command relationship: and confidence necessary for the ROK military to lead theater operations was instilled. In the future, the ROK will systematically prepare itself in every corner of the military to be equipped with necessary capabilities to both deter and conduct war, while improving the military Alliance in a future-oriented manner. From now onwards, utmost efforts will be alloted to construct new optimal Alliance military structure with close consultation between the ROK and the US.
Delaying the transition until late 2015 timeline, buys the ROK military the time not only to secure all military capabilities needed for the defense of the Korean Peninsula, but also to systematically develop tasks pertaining to the transition perse. The military will make use of this time to review and amend the process for implementing the transition and also enable close consultation based on solid confidence between the two nations. In line with "the declaration of Joint Vision for the Alliance of the ROK and the US" of the last year, the development goal of the Alliance intends to expand and deepen the scope of cooperation so as to incorporate not only the security cooperation, but also political, social, cultural, social and economic cooperation and to contribute to peace and the security at the regional level and at the global level, all of which are based on the common value and confidence the two nations uphold.