S. Korea Confirms No Discussions Held on U.S. Troop Pullout
(MENAFN) South Korea’s Foreign Minister nominee, Cho Hyun, confirmed Tuesday that no talks have taken place regarding the reduction or removal of American troops stationed in the country.
Cho’s statement, presented to the parliamentary Foreign Affairs and Unification Committee ahead of his Thursday confirmation hearing, addressed ongoing rumors about potential shifts in US military presence. This speculation surrounds the 28,500-strong US Forces Korea (USFK), with some suggesting a possible scale-back or a strategic pivot toward countering China.
"There have not been any issues discussed at all," Cho declared.
He further highlighted that "the need to retain the USFK at its current level is being widely recognized in the US Congress and academic circles."
Amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration for South Korea to share more of the USFK’s financial burden, Cho reaffirmed Seoul’s commitment to the existing five-year Special Measures Agreement (SMA), signed last year, emphasizing it is not open to renegotiation.
Under the 12th SMA, signed during the Biden administration for 2026-2030, South Korea will contribute $1.1 billion next year toward USFK upkeep.
Echoing President Lee Jae-myung’s administration’s approach, Cho stressed the importance of reducing military tensions through renewed dialogue with North Korea. He underscored the necessity of restarting US-North Korea talks to address Pyongyang’s nuclear program.
"While closely cooperating with the US, the government will work to create conditions for dialogue on North Korea's nuclear issues and promote negotiations between the US and North Korea," he said.
Media reported on the developments.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
