DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
(S//SI) Korea ROCK DRILL 5 Shatters Seoul's Morning Calm
FROM: the North Korea Issue Management Team (NK IMT)
Unknown
Run Date: 05/19/2004
FROM: the North Korea Issue Management Team (NK IMT)
Unknown
(S//SI) From 19-23 April 2004, the Korea Issue Management Team (KIMT) held Rock Drill 5 in
Seoul, Republic of Korea (ROK), testing the cryptologic system's capabilities deep into a conflict
on the Korean Peninsula. ROCK DRILL 5 addressed the issues resulting from an allied
counteroffensive deep into North Korean territory, the seizure of Pyongyang and the eventual
conquest/occupation of the entire North Korean landmass - Phases III and IV of OPLANS 5026
and 5027. While reacting to a North Korean attack (Phase II) has been the subject of a previous
ROCK DRILL and many exercises, ROCK DRILL 5 represented the first-ever Cryptologic
Community-wide discussions on the later phases of a Korean war. As such, a lot of eyes were
opened, assumptions challenged, myths exposed and epiphanies experienced.
(S//SI) Continuing in the KIMT tradition of breaking new ground with every ROCK DRILL, ROCK
DRILL 5 was also the first exercise of this type to be held with a Third Party partner, as the 22
and 23 April sessions were held at the ROK's Defense Security Agency (DSA). These sessions
exceeded expectations, giving DSA its first glimpse at the recently revised United Nations
Command/Combined Forces Command OPLANs and generating lively discussions that indicated
shifts in DSA's thinking about supporting the war effort. Since 95% of the troops involved in a
resumption of the Korean War would be South Korean, synchronizing DSA's efforts with those of
NSA is imperative, and ROCK DRILL 5 succeeded in starting that process.
(S//SI) ROCK DRILL 5 was attended by NSA/CSS participants and customers from South Korea,
Japan, Hawaii and Maryland. Holding the ROCK DRILL in Seoul allowed for widespread theater
participation and an appreciation by NSAW personnel of the challenges of the combined
peninsula environment. BG John DeFreitas, United States Forces Korea (USFK) J2, set the tone
by emphasizing the need for collaborative yet candid discussions of issues and resolutions. BG
DeFreitas then framed the discussions for the ROCK DRILL by detailing the Ten Critical Fights
that US-ROK Alliance needs to win in order to score a limited victory (as in OPLAN 5026) or
defeat North Korea completely (as in 5027).
(S//SI) Large group discussions led to smaller expert-focused groups to work on key issues in
the categories of Collection, IT Infrastructure/Network Security, and Analysis/Production. During
the DSA sessions, the small groups focused on National-Tactical Integration and Collection. From
both the large-group and small-group discussions, gaps were discovered and actions taken that
will result in improved cryptologic support for USFK, PACOM and State Department. GEN
LaPorte, Commander UNC/CFC/USFK, addressed the U.S.-only ROCK DRILL session and at the
conclusion BG DeFreitas expressed gratitude for NSA's "valuable" efforts, declaring the ROCK
DRILL a success.
(S) On the Saturday following ROCK DRILL, BG DeFreitas treated most of the participants to a
"Lay of the Land" tour, which acquainted those from off peninsula with the field sites and
command posts associated with prosecuting the North Korean target. Helicopters ferried ROCK
DRILLers to Third ROK Army headquarters, P'yông t'aek (home to Field Station Korea), Osan
(location of the 303rd IS), and the wartime command post (CP Tango). For all, this provided a
revealing perspective of the cogs in the peninsula cryptologic machinery, as well as a bird's-eyeview of some of the rugged terrain on which a resumed conflict would be fought.
(S) The Korea IMT is now in the process of digesting the material and will soon assign NSA/CSS
people and organizations with follow-on actions. Those tapped for actions should be aware that
the tasking deadlines will be aggressive. One of the salient points of OPLANs 5026 and 5027 is
that the plans are defensive and USFK will be reacting to North Korean provocations - therefore,
NSA/CSS has to be ready to respond rapidly and on short notice. The timeline is North Korea's,
not ours.
(U//FOUO) If you have any questions, please feel free to contact LT
(
vc.di.nsa, NSTS
), Tim Miner
@nsa, NSTS
@nsa, NSTS
or
(
nsa, NSTS
IMT.
), Liz Brooks
, the NK
"(U//FOUO) SIDtoday articles may not be republished or reposted outside NSANet
without the consent of S0121 (DL sid_comms)."
DYNAMIC PAGE -- HIGHEST POSSIBLE CLASSIFICATION IS
TOP SECRET // SI / TK // REL TO USA AUS CAN GBR NZL
DERIVED FROM: NSA/CSSM 1-52, DATED 08 JAN 2007 DECLASSIFY ON: 20320108