USFK Supplies to Arrive on Korean Peninsula Starting This Week... Applied to Wartime Reinforcement Exercises

Plan for 2nd Striker Brigade to Use Nationwide Ports for Supplies
US Highlights Ability to Transport Supplies Regardless of Front or Rear in Wartime Situations

On the 8th, personnel from the U.S. 8th Army are unloading equipment of the 2nd Striker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) that arrived at Pyeongtaek Port. (Photo by U.S. 8th Army)

[Asia Economy Yang Nak-gyu, Military Specialist Reporter] Supplies for the rotationally deployed U.S. Forces Korea 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT) will begin arriving on the Korean Peninsula starting this week. In the event of an emergency, supplies are planned to be distributed using the Republic of Korea-U.S. Combined Reception, Staging, Onward Movement, and Integration (RSOI) exercise method, with simultaneous use of ports nationwide.

According to military officials on the 18th, the U.S. Stryker Brigade Combat Team (SBCT), composed of Stryker armored vehicles, arrived through Pyeongtaek Port on the 8th. Until now, equipment for rotationally deployed U.S. brigades in Korea primarily used Busan Port, but this is the first time Pyeongtaek Port in the forward area has been utilized. This indicates an intention to use forward area ports rather than rear area ports in emergencies.

Notably, applying RSOI to the Stryker Brigade's supply transport is unusual. With North Korea continuing its provocations, the intention is to highlight that supplies can be transported through Incheon, Pyeongtaek, Gunsan, Busan, Pohang, and other ports in emergencies.

The RSOI exercise name encapsulates specific training content: Reception of U.S. reinforcements deployed to Korea in emergencies, Staging them, Onward Movement to the front lines, and Integration. Although the RSOI exercise was renamed Key Resolve in 2008, it has been scaled down during the Moon Jae-in administration due to COVID-19 and inter-Korean relations. At that time, concerns arose that readiness for large-scale U.S. troop deployment in emergencies on the Korean Peninsula might be deteriorating.

The Stryker armored vehicles operated by the Stryker Brigade Combat Team carry 2 to 4 crew members and 9 armed infantry soldiers, and can sprint at a top speed of 100 km/h. Equipped even with laser anti-aircraft weapons, they are evaluated as medium armored vehicles optimized for the Korean Peninsula terrain, boasting mobility, survivability, and powerful firepower.