Seoul: A senior South Korean defense official has emphasized the necessity of maintaining the current troop level of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) during discussions with U.S. lawmakers, as confirmed by the South’s defense ministry. This assertion comes amid speculation about a potential partial withdrawal of USFK by the United States to achieve “strategic flexibility” in addressing an assertive China.
According to Yonhap News Agency, Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Cho Chang-rae presented these points during meetings with U.S. congressional delegations from both the Senate and the House of Representatives. These meetings took place on the sidelines of the Shangri-La Dialogue, an annual defense forum held in Singapore. Cho was in attendance on behalf of acting Defense Minister Kim Seon-ho.
During the discussions, Cho highlighted the necessity for the South Korean military and the USFK to collaborate in maintaining regional peace and stability. This includes enhancing deterrence against North Korea on the Korean Peninsula, supported by a solid combined defense posture, as mentioned by the ministry. Furthermore, Cho acknowledged the South Korea-U.S. alliance as a cornerstone for peace and security on the Korean Peninsula and beyond. He urged for bipartisan backing to strengthen this relationship further, expressing gratitude to the U.S. Congress for its consistent efforts in keeping the USFK troop levels stable.
In response, U.S. lawmakers reiterated Washington’s commitment to providing extended deterrence to South Korea, utilizing all military capabilities. They also confirmed that the South Korea-U.S. alliance remains “ironclad,” according to the ministry. This follows a report from The Wall Street Journal suggesting a potential withdrawal of approximately 4,500 U.S. troops, or 16 percent of those stationed in South Korea. However, the Pentagon has denied the report, and Seoul has ruled out any discussions on the issue without bilateral consultation.
Despite this, a senior U.S. defense official has stressed the importance of “modernizing” the alliance with South Korea and “calibrating” the U.S. force posture on the Korean Peninsula to counter China. During the talks on Saturday, both parties also explored bilateral defense matters, including cooperation in shipbuilding and arms industries, as well as the growing military cooperation between North Korea and Russia.
Cho urged U.S. congressional support for removing legal barriers and signing the Reciprocal Defense Procurement Agreement to promote science and technology cooperation in areas such as shipbuilding, naval maintenance, repair and overhaul, artificial intelligence, and manned-unmanned teaming systems, according to the ministry. The U.S. lawmakers committed to congressional support for strengthening bilateral cooperation in the shipbuilding and arms sectors. Both sides expressed serious concerns over the illegal cooperation between Pyongyang and Moscow and agreed on the necessity for a firm international response.
Present at the talks were U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL) and Pete Ricketts (R-NE), along with Representatives John Moolenaar (R-MI), Brian Mast (R-FL), and Greg Stanton (D-AZ).