U.S. defense official secretly visited S. Korea, reportedly threatened to pull U.S. troops

AP ^ | 06/09/05

[TigerLikesRooster]

Thursday June 9, 4:41 PM

U.S. defense official secretly visited S. Korea, reportedly threatened to pull U.S. troops

A U.S. defense official paid a secret visit to Seoul this week and told his South Korean counterparts that Washington might withdraw its troops if the two sides continue to disagree on various bilateral issues, local media reported Thursday.

South Korea's Foreign Ministry acknowledged the visit by U.S. Deputy Undersecretary of Defense Richard Lawless, but refused to disclose what was discussed during his meetings Monday and Tuesday.

Local newspapers reported that Lawless said Washington might have to withdraw its troops if Seoul keeps disagreeing on a range of issues, including Pentagon plans for its forces to be more flexible and potentially operate across the region. The reports in the Hankyoreh and Munhwa dailies, along with various Internet media, cited South Korean defense officials and diplomats.

The Foreign Ministry dismissed the media reports as "not being in line with the trend of close cooperation between (South) Korea and the United States."

While not directly refuting the reported comments by Lawless, the ministry said in a statement that "the Korea-U.S. alliance is not so weak that it could be swayed by comments from one or two officials."

The reports come on the eve of a Friday meeting in Washington between U.S. President George W. Bush and South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun where the two leaders are aiming to patch up strains in their alliance over differences in dealing with North Korea.

Roh has previously expressed concern that plans for U.S. troops here to be a more flexible force might unwillingly embroil South Korea in regional conflicts.

About 32,500 U.S. troops are stationed in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a cease-fire, not a peace treaty. Washington plans to cut down the number to about 24,500 in coming years as part of a worldwide redeployment of its forces.

[traviskicks]

If true, this is great news. About damn time!

[loreldan]

Take the troops out of S. Korea and move them to Taiwan.

[MikefromOhio]

Take the troops out of S. Korea and move them to Taiwan.

That would wake up China in a big hurry...

[rhombus]

South Korean BRAC.

[HOYA97]

Ping!

[xrp]

Worth defending.

[rogue yam]

While not directly refuting the reported comments by Lawless, the ministry said in a statement that "the Korea-U.S. alliance is not so weak that it could be swayed by comments from one or two officials."

One official is plenty if that official speaks on behalf of the President of the United States.

[End Times Sentinel]

Roh has previously expressed concern that plans for U.S. troops here to be a more flexible force might unwillingly embroil South Korea in regional conflicts.

 

Well, we wouldn't want you to get embroiled in any regional conflicts that aren't your business.  Come to think of it, neither do we.  It's not a grave concern of mine if a midget army comes pouring south of the 38th Parallel.  Good luck with that.

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[kabar]

If kicked out of South Korea, the US will be the ultimate losers.

I don't know what you mean by being "kicked out", but we should not remain if we are not wanted or needed. Moreover, it is time that modern countries like South Korea take full responsibility for their own defense. They have been living on security welfare from the US for over 50 years.

South Korea has the world's 13th largest economy. The have a modern, well-equipped military, which should be more than a match for North Korea. The US can provide the nuclear deterrent. We don't need American tripwire troops on the Korean peninsula.

[JohnnyZ]

The thing is, that kind of anti-American rhetoric is usually a smokescreen to avoid discussing serious issues.

There is discontent over Roh's leadership and his party in ROK. A recent poll said only the 30-somethings still favor them.

[JohnnyZ]

True that!

They grow some good pitchers and golfers too

[xrp]

My girlfriend is Korean. Not Korean-American, but Korean Korean and just completed school here in the states. I haven't exactly dated many American women, but my experience with her makes me hard pressed to ever date an *-American woman again if this doesn't work out.

http://www.nomarriage.com/

[AmericanInTokyo]

Or, as they say, it is definitely no longer your "Grandfather-Posted-in-Korea-in-the-Military" days, regarding Korean girls.

[The Electrician]

Roh has previously expressed concern that plans for U.S. troops here to be a more flexible force might unwillingly embroil South Korea in regional conflicts.

I need a translation here. Is that a veiled reference to the China-Taiwan conflict, or is it a reference to North Korea?

[AmericanInTokyo]

My, what an absolutely incredible website.

I'm speechless.

I don't know whether to get angry because of all the cruel generalizations, or laugh because of the elements of truth! :-)

[TigerLikesRooster]

Is that a veiled reference to the China-Taiwan conflict

Yes. However, since Roh changes his mind more often than you know who, it could be anything.:-)

[CDB]

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/1376628/posts

[ArmyTeach]

midget army. Don't forget, those can be some pretty mean midgets. We were unprepared for them once before and they gave us a hard way to go.

[JohnnyZ]

How are you liking the whole garlic & cabbage deal?

My Chinese friends have been warning me against dating non-Chinese Asians.

Korean: "never date Korean girl, smell like garlic all the time!"
Vietnamese: "you don't want to marry Vienanese girl, you cheat on her, she come in the night with knife, cut --"

[TigerLikesRooster]

Re #39

Well, it does not surprise me to hear that they say those things. When there are 10 Chinese in the room and one Korean, they get cocky and say all kinds of things. They tend to count on their ultimate advantage, head count.