WASHINGTON — The head of all U.S. forces in the Pacific told lawmakers continuing exercises between the South Korean and U.S. forces are vital to the alliance amid China's call to curtail them. 

The Carl Vinson carrier strike group, which recently had its deployment extended, is conducting exercises with the Republic of Korea while Exercise Max Thunder, a massive air exercise involving U.S. and South Korean troops on the peninsula, continues through the week.

China believes the exercises destabilize the situation with North Korea and that if the U.S. curtailed them the Kim Jong-Un regime might agree to deescalate. But Harris said the exercises should continue so the U.S. can fulfill its treaty obligations.

"We are obliged to defend South Korea by a treaty," Adm. Harry Harris, head of U.S. Pacific Command, told lawmakers.

"They have a very strong and capable military, as we do. But if we're going to defend them or if we're going to fight with them on the peninsula then we have to be able to integrate with their military, we have to be able to work with their military, we have to understand their military and vice versa."

Harris said the exercises should not be seen as aggressive but as a message of resolve between the allies.

"Our intention is to bring Kim Jong Un to his senses, not to his knees," Harris told the House Armed Services Committee.

Harris also pushed back on China’s opposition to deploying the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense system, designed to shoot down ballistic missiles aimed at South Korea. Harris called the opposition "preposterous," adding that the THAAD is a purely defensive weapon. He called on China to focus more on reigning in North Korea's missile and nuclear tests.

"I find it preposterous that China would try to influence South Korea to not get a weapon's system that's completely defensive against the very country that's allied with China," Harris said. "So if China wants to do something constructive then they ought to focus less, in my opinion, on South Korea's defensive preparations and focus instead more on North Korea's offensive preparations."

China has been increasingly helpful in recent days in reigning in North Korea, and Harris credited a good relationship between President Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping for helping that along.

If a conflict does break out, PACOM has the capabilities to fight North Korea in the near term. But Harris said the U.S. military's readiness shortfalls worry him because they impact follow-on forces that would be needed for an extended campaign.

"I’m pleased with the array of forces we have in the region in terms of ‘fight tonight’ forces, but I am concerned about the follow-on forces," he said.

Harris also raised the need to increase ballistic missile defense capabilities in Hawaii, which is the home of U.S. Pacific Command. And he suggested the U.S. may need defense-of-Hawaii radar and missile interceptors based in Hawaii. Today, ballistic missile defense interceptors are based in Alaska.

"I am concerned about it," Harris said in response to a question from Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard. "I believe our ballistic missile architecture is sufficient to defend Hawaii today but it can be overwhelmed. ... Kim Jong Un is clearly in a position to threaten Hawaii today."

About David B. Larter

David B. Larter was the naval warfare reporter for Defense News.

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