US Defense Authorization Act Single Bill Released: "Maintain 28,500 US Troops in South Korea"

The U.S. Congress, both the Senate and the House of Representatives, has agreed to include provisions in the National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the next fiscal year that require the administration to maintain the current size of U.S. Forces Korea and to strengthen extended deterrence toward South Korea. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Defense will be required to report progress to Congress regarding the transfer of wartime operational control to South Korea.

On the 7th (local time), the Senate Armed Services Committee and the House Armed Services Committee announced a unified version of the NDAA for fiscal year 2024 containing these provisions.

Regarding South Korea, the bill orders maintaining the approximately 28,500 U.S. troops stationed there, reaffirming the extended deterrence commitment utilizing all U.S. defense capabilities, and strengthening the ROK-U.S. alliance by deepening nuclear deterrence cooperation emphasized in the Washington Declaration adopted during President Yoon Seok-yeol’s state visit to the U.S. on April 26 with President Biden.

Furthermore, the bill newly includes a requirement to report to Congress within 180 days of enactment on the transfer of wartime operational control on the Korean Peninsula. The report must explain the conditions South Korean forces must meet to assume operational control and assess the extent to which these conditions have been achieved. It also orders notification of the transfer plan at least 45 days prior to the transfer.

The bill also mandates a report to Congress by April 1, 2025, evaluating the readiness and organizational structure of U.S. forces in the Indo-Pacific region, including U.S. Forces Korea and U.S. Forces Japan, along with recommendations on how to adjust them.

Additionally, the bill contains provisions emphasizing that the U.S. must continue efforts to strengthen military alliances and partnerships in the Indo-Pacific region to expand its comparative advantage in strategic competition with China. It also includes a directive to dispatch intelligence personnel to the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) under the Department of Commerce to share information on adversary trends related to dual-use and emerging technologies that could be used for military purposes.

The NDAA, an annual bill that determines defense-related budgets, must be passed by both the Senate and the House, merged into a unified version, and then finally approved by the full chambers of both houses to complete the congressional review process.