Online Seminar Hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies
WSJ Reports on Possible US Forces Korea Reduction
On Nuclear Armament: "A Matter of Korean Sovereignty"
On May 27 (local time), US Forces Korea Commander Xavier Brunson stated that he had not heard anything from the Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff regarding the recent speculation about a reduction of US troops in Korea.
During an online seminar hosted by the Institute for Corean-American Studies (ICAS) that day, Commander Brunson said, "One of the hats I wear is as the senior US officer stationed in Korea," and added, "The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has not called me about the reports, nor has he said anything to me."
Previously, on May 22, the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) reported, citing US Department of Defense officials, that the Pentagon was preparing a plan to relocate approximately 4,500 US troops stationed in Korea to other regions.
Commander Brunson emphasized, "Even in the WSJ article, the words of the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff were not quoted."
Prior to the WSJ report, US Forces Korea had also stated, "Reports that the US Department of Defense will reduce US Forces Korea are not true," and added, "The United States remains firmly committed to the defense of the Republic of Korea and looks forward to consulting with the new administration on ways to maintain and strengthen our ironclad alliance."
He also highlighted the strategic importance of US Forces Korea in deterring the military expansion of China and Russia. Commander Brunson said, "Among US military units, none are stationed on the Asian continent except for US Forces Korea. Currently, aside from our unit, there are no US troops within a straight-line distance of 400 to 600 kilometers from Beijing."
Commander Brunson further stated, "When we talk about strategic flexibility, it means that we must be able to deploy elsewhere to guarantee peace through strength. The global challenges facing our region are immense." He added, "Looking at the East Sea from the Korean Peninsula, there are incursions by Russia, and in the West Sea, China is making incursions near the Northern Limit Line (NLL)."
Regarding the debate over South Korea's own nuclear armament in response to North Korea's nuclear threat, Commander Brunson said, "Whether Korea chooses to possess nuclear weapons is a matter of Korean sovereignty," and added, "The person most suited to answer that question will be whoever wins the presidential election, and that person will provide a better answer than I can."
On the issue of North Korean troops reportedly deployed to the Kursk region in support of Russia in the war in Ukraine, Commander Brunson commented, "They have learned how to convert strategic movement into operational maneuver, and that is significant."
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