Seoul: South Korea's defense ministry announced that no discussions have been conducted with the Pentagon regarding the potential reduction of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) troops stationed in South Korea. The ministry emphasized the necessity of bilateral consultations in addressing such matters.
According to Yonhap News Agency, this statement came in response to a report by The Wall Street Journal, which suggested that the Trump administration was contemplating the withdrawal of approximately 4,500 troops, or 16 percent, of the 28,500-strong USFK. The report indicated that these troops might be relocated to other Indo-Pacific locations, including Guam, as part of an informal policy review addressing North Korean issues.
The South Korean ministry highlighted the importance of the USFK as a core component of the South Korea-U.S. alliance, contributing to peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula by maintaining a strong combined defense posture. They affirmed ongoing cooperation with the U.S. to further these objectives.
A defense ministry official reiterated that any changes to USFK troop levels would require consultation between the allies, based on mutual respect and the alliance's spirit. Such plans would undergo procedures like the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM) and the Military Committee Meeting (MCM), which are annual talks between the two nations' defense and military chiefs.
A Pentagon spokesperson informed Yonhap News Agency that no policy announcements have been made regarding potential USFK troop reductions. This report emerges amid speculations that Washington might be seeking "strategic flexibility" to expand USFK's role in countering China's growing influence rather than focusing solely on North Korean threats.
The U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the development of the Pentagon's 2025 National Defense Strategy (NDS), emphasizing increased "burden-sharing" with allies and countering threats from China in the Indo-Pacific region. The NDS draft, set for submission by August 31, may also propose raising South Korea's financial contributions for stationing USFK troops.
In a recent agreement, Seoul and Washington signed a five-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA) through 2030, stipulating that Seoul will pay 1.52 trillion won (US$1.1 billion) next year for USFK upkeep, marking an 8.3 percent increase from 2025. Notably, former President Trump had criticized South Korea's contributions, suggesting higher payments if he had been in office.
Since 2008, the USFK has maintained a troop level of 28,500 across various components, including the Eighth Army, the Seventh Air Force, U.S. Naval Forces Korea, U.S. Marine Corps Forces Korea, and the U.S. Special Operations Command Korea.