Latest news with #USFK
Korea Herald
2 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
S. Korea almost absent in Hegseth's speech at Shangri-La Dialogue
The Pentagon chief's speech at an annual defense forum in Singapore used to highlight defense cooperation with South Korea and trilateral efforts with Japan as the United States has sought to leverage the core Asian allies for peace in the face of a provocative North Korea and an assertive China. But South Korea was almost absent in this year's Shangri-La Dialogue speech by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, adding to concerns that the monthslong absence of a fully elected leader in South Korea could have an impact on the bilateral alliance. The speech was delivered as South Korea is set to pick a new president in an election slated for Tuesday. The presidential vote was set up following the April ouster of former President Yoon Suk Yeol over his short-lived martial law declaration in December. Hegseth's speech spelled out security engagements with Japan, the Philippines, Australia, Thailand and India as well as the trilateral partnership between the US, Japan and Australia. But Korea was not mentioned in his narrative of security cooperation with Indo-Pacific allies and partners. He touched on South Korea once, when he announced a defense cooperation project that will enable Korea and New Zealand, which use P-8 maritime aircraft, to repair the plane in the Indo-Pacific rather than relying on a single repair source in the continental U.S. The increasingly worrisome North Korean military quandary was not given much attention in the secretary's speech either, whereas he accentuated threats from China and stressed the need for allies to increase defense spending and serve as "force multipliers" in the midst of threats from Beijing. The secretary's perceived lack of focus on cooperation with South Korea followed a recent Wall Street Journal report that the Pentagon is considering the idea of pulling out around 4,500 troops from the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK). The Pentagon has dismissed the report as untrue, but speculation continues. A senior US defense official has said that given the US' priority on deterring China, it is "essential" to work with the incoming Seoul government to "modernize" the alliance and "calibrate" US force posture on the Korean Peninsula -- a remark that apparently left open the door for an adjustment to the USFK presence. South Korea was also absent in the secretary's plans for bilateral, trilateral and multilateral talks on the sidelines of the annual forum, as Seoul sent Deputy Defense Minister for Policy Cho Chang-rae to the forum rather than its acting Defense Minister Kim Sun-ho. "My understanding is (the secretary's South Korean) counterpart was not able to be attending the Shangri-La Dialogue. That's why he is not able to do the bilateral meeting with South Korea at this time," a senior US defense official told reporters earlier this week. "But obviously we look forward to working with the incoming South Korean government after the election. I also want to reiterate the US-ROK alliance remains critical to the US interests," he added. ROK stands for South Korea's official name, the Republic of Korea. Though South Korea was rarely seen in official events, its officials made behind-the-scenes diplomatic efforts to maintain engagements with foreign partners, a diplomatic source told Yonhap News Agency. "Still, we have received a due amount of requests from foreign governments for engagements at the forum," the source said. Still, South Koreans appear to have been a bit let down about a lack of attention to Korea in the secretary's remarks. "I felt that it was a bit unfortunate," another source said. Worries about the strength of the alliance in the midst of political uncertainty in Seoul emerged in March as well when Hegseth skipped South Korea in his first trip to the Indo-Pacific, which included stops in Japan and the Philippines. Brushing aside those concerns, Seoul and Washington continued to hold regular defense talks. Early this month, the allies held the Korea-US Integrated Defense Dialogue in Washington, where the two sides agreed to further cooperate to achieve shared security goals on the peninsula and in the Indo-Pacific. The two sides are also expected to hold a meeting of the Nuclear Consultative Group, their key nuclear deterrence body. Observers pin hopes on the full resumption of high-level talks between South Korea and the US once a new government is launched next month. (Yonhap)
South China Morning Post
3 days ago
- Business
- South China Morning Post
‘US troops critical': South Korean presidential candidate signals turn on China policy
US troops in South Korea could be 'critical' for containing China, and might potentially benefit Seoul's outreach to the Arctic, according to the front runner for the coming presidential election who has signalled a possible change in his position on China. During an exclusive interview with Time Magazine published on Thursday, the Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung said US Forces Korea (USFK) could play a 'critical role for the United States policy of containment against China'. He also said Washington's recent rapprochement with Moscow was 'a means to exert pressure on China' and could benefit Seoul with the possible opening of Arctic shipping routes. 04:19 Political divide widens along gender lines for young first-time voters in South Korea Political divide widens along gender lines for young first-time voters in South Korea 'If so, it could offer strategic advantages, not only for the US and Russia but also for Korea,' he said, according to Time. South Korea is set to hold a presidential election on Tuesday. Former president Yoon Suk-yeol was impeached in April, following political turmoil stemming from his abrupt declaration of martial law in December. Lee and the progressive DPK lead South Korea's presidential race with up to 50 per cent of public support according to the polls. They have largely been regarded as more friendly in their diplomacy with China compared to Yoon and his conservative People Power Party (PPP), which emphasised the alliance with the US and strengthening South Korea's outreach in addressing security challenges outside the Korean peninsula. During the last presidential election campaign in 2022 when Lee competed with Yoon for the presidency, Lee was criticised for his description of the American military in Korea as 'occupation forces'.
Korea Herald
4 days ago
- Politics
- Korea Herald
US looks to 'calibrate' USFK posture to deter China: senior official
The United States is looking to "modernize" its alliance with South Korea and "calibrate" US force posture on the Korean Peninsula to deter China, a senior US defense official said Thursday, apparently leaving open the possibility of an adjustment to the US Forces Korea presence. In a press briefing, the official stressed Washington's desire to work with the incoming Seoul government to ensure that the bilateral partnership is "strategically sustainable," as South Korea is set to pick a new president in an election set for Tuesday. The officials' remarks followed a recent news report that the Pentagon is considering withdrawing roughly 4,500 troops of the 28,500-strong USFK and moving them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific, including Guam. The Pentagon has dismissed the report as untrue. "We are prioritizing deterring China. That is one of our stated priorities. It is essential, as we do that, to work with Seoul to modernize the alliance and calibrate US force posture on the peninsula to reflect the realities of the regional security environment," the official said, responding to a question from Yonhap News Agency. "We will continue to empower our allies and partners to do more for their own defense. That includes South Korea, and we look forward to working with the incoming South Korean government to ensure that our alliance is strategically sustainable, and that our combined posture on the peninsula credibly contributes to the deterrence against both China and North Korea." His remarks appeared to be suggesting that the Pentagon is not entirely ruling out an adjustment to the USFK troop level in an effort to keep an assertive China in check. "We look forward to working with the new government (of South Korea) following the election next Tuesday, like I said, to make sure that the alliance is strategically sustainable," he said when asked to clarify if there is still a possibility of an adjustment to the USFK troop level. "As we focus on deterring China, we look forward to working with Seoul to define the best way forward." The briefing took place on a plane en route to Singapore as the official is accompanying Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth in his trip to the city-state, where the Pentagon chief will attend the Shangri-La Dialogue and other meetings on its sidelines. On Saturday morning, Hegseth plans to deliver plenary remarks at the Shangri-La Dialogue. "He will provide an honest overview of threats China poses to the region, (and) underscore our goal is to prevent war by establishing an incredible shield of deterrence with our unmatched network of allies and partners," the official said of the secretary's planned speech. Hegseth will also discuss how the Pentagon is reestablishing deterrence in the region by expanding the US' force posture, helping its allies and partners strengthen their defense capabilities, and rebuilding its defense industrial base, the official added. On the margins of the forum, the secretary plans to hold a four-way meeting with his counterparts from Japan, Australia and the Philippines, multilateral talks with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and a series of bilateral talks with his counterparts from Australia, Vietnam and other countries.
South China Morning Post
6 days ago
- Politics
- South China Morning Post
Could US troop cuts in South Korea become reality? Seoul on edge before June 3 election
Talk of a possible US troop reduction in South Korea is fuelling anxiety in Seoul ahead of the June 3 snap presidential election , with analysts warning that Washington's shifting defence priorities could reshape the alliance amid rising regional tensions, posing an early test for the next administration. With just over a week until South Koreans head to the polls, concerns have been reignited over the long-debated issue of 'strategic flexibility' – the idea that US Forces Korea (USFK) might be redeployed to respond to regional conflicts beyond the Korean peninsula. Such a shift, some analysts warn, could erode South Korea's deterrence posture against North Korea and entangle it in wider US-China rivalries. The controversy was stirred by a media report last week suggesting Washington was mulling a plan to reassign some 4,500 of its 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea to other Indo-Pacific locations, including Guam . The Pentagon swiftly denied the claim. 'Reports that the Department of Defence will reduce US troops in the Republic of Korea are not true,' chief Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell told the Wall Street Journal, adding that the United States remained 'firmly committed' to South Korea's defence and to strengthening the 'ironclad alliance'. South Korean and US soldiers take part in a river crossing operation drill in Yeoju, South Korea, in 2022. Photo: Reuters Still, concerns persist in Seoul that changes could be coming – and not just under the guise of regional flexibility.
Korea Herald
24-05-2025
- Politics
- Korea Herald
USFK dismisses troop downsizing report
No discussions yet with Washington over partial withdrawal of US troops: Seoul The United States Forces Korea on Friday dismissed a report saying Washington is mulling the possibility of a partial withdrawal of the strong 28,500 troops stationed here. "The US remains firmly committed to the defense of the ROK and we look forward to working with the incoming government officials to maintain and strengthen our iron clad alliance," the USFK said in a statement. "Reports that the Department of Defense will reduce US troops in the Republic of Korea are not true.' ROK is an abbreviation for Republic of Korea, which is South Korea's official name. The statement followed a report early Friday from The Wall Street Journal, which claimed that the Donald Trump administration is weighing the option of pulling out some 4,500 troops, or around 15 percent of the USFK, and moving them to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam, which is an American island territory. The report added to security concerns in South Korea amid volatilities stemming from North Korea's advancing nuclear weapons program. Addressing the report, South Korea's Ministry of National Defense said in the morning that no discussions had recently been held with the US government over the issue of withdrawal of USFK. 'There were no discussions held between South Korea and the US over the issue of withdrawal of USFK,' the ministry said. "The USFK, as the core strength of the South Korea-US alliance, has contributed to the peace and stability of the Korean Peninsula and in the region by maintaining a firm combined defense posture and deterring North Korea's invasion and provocation, alongside our military," the ministry added. "We will continue to cooperate with the US side to advance in such a direction.' The WSJ report is aligned with a separate report from The Washington Post earlier this year that the second Trump administration plans to 'reorient' the US military to prioritize deterring China's seizure of Taiwan and shoring up homeland defense. It cited secret internal guidance distributed throughout the Pentagon in mid-March. An official at Seoul's Foreign Ministry, declining to be named, echoed the Defense Ministry's statement, saying that the USFK has been 'the backbone and the symbol of the South Korea-US alliance, while deterring threats from North Korea and contributing to the peace and security in the region.' The official highlighted the 'negative views' expressed by US Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr. and USFK Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson about potentially scaling back the US troops deployed here. 'Recently, the US Indo-Pacific Command commander and the USFK commander have stressed the importance of the role of the USFK and expressed negative views on a possible withdrawal or reduction,' the official explained. 'The US' National Defense Authorization Act has also consistently included the part which calls for the maintenance of the current USFK troop strength.' The report, which came as South Korea heads into a snap presidential election on June 3, triggered by former President Yoon Suk Yeol's impeachment and removal from office, prompted reactions from the political sphere. People Power Party presidential candidate Kim Moon-soo on Thursday expressed concerns about front-runner and rival Democratic Party of Korea candidate Lee Jae-myung's past remark that labeled the USFK as 'an occupying force.' 'Candidate Lee Jae-myung in the past, undermined the USFK by calling them an occupying force and labeling the combined military exercises among South Korea, US and Japan as an extreme pro-Japanese act,' Kim wrote on Facebook in the afternoon. Kim claimed that 'worries have been spreading' across the country that the USFK's withdrawal could materialize if Lee is elected president. 'Candidate Lee Jae-myung should apologize for his past remarks (calling the USFK) an occupying force and clearly reveal his stance toward the South Korea-US alliance.' Minor conservative New Reform Party candidate Lee Jun-seok told the press that South Korea should 'be confident' in dealing with the US regarding the issues of the USFK, after attending a memorial service for late President Roh Moo-hyun in the southeastern rural village of Bongha, South Gyeongsang Province, in the morning. 'The USFK is stationed here due to the US' strategic understanding -- South Korea must come up with the best outcome for our people by strengthening our own defense capabilities on one side and convincing the US that we can cooperate for the benefit of the US' security,' he added. Lee has yet to release a statement on the matter, but Cho Seung-rae, the Democratic Party's chief spokesperson, highlighted the role of the USFK in protecting 'the peace in the Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region' and 'deterring North Korea threats.' 'It's a topic that should be calmly discussed (between Seoul and Washington) based on the value we share in our alliance,' Cho told reporters after attending the same morning memorial service. 'From the perspective of the South Korea-US alliance, the role of the USFK, which deters threats from North Korea and contributes to the peace in Northeast Asia and the Indo-Pacific region, is clear. And I believe that both the ruling and the opposition parties' thoughts and South Korea's and the US' perspectives on the matter are not different.'
