The defense chiefs of South Korea and the U.S. on Tuesday agreed to maintain the key elements of the U.S. Forces Korea, including a battalion of Apache attack helicopters, for the time being. They also agreed not to cut USFK troops any further.
Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee and U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert M. Gates met in Seoul and agreed that maintaining the current level of combat capability for the 28,500-strong U.S. troops will “contribute significantly to strengthening the two countries' combined defense posture,” the Defense Ministry said.
The two were reaffirming an agreement presidents Lee Myung-bak and George W. Bush reached at a summit in April.
In a press conference at Collier Field House at the USFK's Yongsan compound in Seoul after the talks, Gates dismissed speculation that U.S. troops in South Korea could be deployed to other parts of the world where America is at war, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, under the new doctrine of "strategic flexibility.” "As I indicated earlier, as we go forward we will not take any actions without full consultation with our Korean ally,” Gates said. Commenting on media reports that the U.S. could send a battalion of Apache attack helicopters in Korea to Afghanistan, he said no decision had been made.
Lee and Gates also reaffirmed the bilateral agreement on the transition of full operational control of Korean troops to Seoul by April 17, 2012. They agreed to continue working toward forming a “21st century strategic alliance" the presidents of the two nations outlined during their summit.
"The foreign affairs and defense authorities of the two countries are currently discussing drafting a declaration on a vision for the 21st century strategic alliance,” a Defense Ministry official said.
The declaration is to be similar to the 1996 “Japan-U.S. Joint Declaration on Security -- Alliance for the 21st Century.” According to a source, it envisages turning the conventional pact into one encompassing even economic matters, including the Korea-U.S. Free Trade Agreement, in areas where the two share common interests and values in Northeast Asia.
The U.S. asked Korea to try to conclude talks on sharing the upkeep costs of the USFK soon. Seoul said the matter will have to be discussed in the new 18th National Assembly.
