In 1994, the Pacific Command played an important role in the various World War II Commemorations. High level visits to the Philippines, Vietnam, China and North Korea were executed in order to further diplomatic ties in the Asia-Pacific region. Foreign policy at this time shifted from containment to engagement with the implementation of President Clinton’s Cooperative Engagement Strategy for the “New Pacific Community.” USPACOM focused on apply limited means three principal ways: forward presence, strong alliances, and U.S. capacity for crises response.
This report contains a summary of USPACOM operations that will provide a comprehensive understanding of the operations, problems faced, and the status of USPACOM from the viewpoint of the Commander in Chief. This report focuses on command status, threat and intelligence, operations, logistics and security assistance and plans.
“The only serious active war threat in the USPACOM area of responsibility was from North Korea, the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (DPRK). This closed, militaristic society had the majority of its troops stationed within a relatively short distance from the DMZ. Adding to the perceived threat were the death of Kim II-sung on 8 July 1994 and the rise of his son, Kim Chong-iI, to power, indications of food shortages in the North, a shrinking economy, and a stalemate in negotiations over international inspection of the North’s nuclear sites.” (p 27)
This report was released to the Nautilus Institute under the US Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).