South Korea - US military to relocate main base from Seoul to new location

Channel News Asia ^ | April 9, 2003

[HAL9000]

The US military is planning to relocate its main base from the South Korean capital Seoul to a new location in the country.

"The two sides agreed to relocate Yongsan garrison as soon as possible," a statement said after military talks between the two sides to revitalise their 50-year-old military alliance.

The United States deploys 37,000 troops in South Korea.

The military talks were taking place following massive anti-US protests last year, and calls from South Korea President Roh Moo-Hyun for a more balanced bilateral relationship.

Earlier South Korea's Defence Minister Cho Young-Kil said he opposed any US proposal to pull back its forces from the peninsula, until the North Korean nuclear crisis is over.

South Korea considers the US bases on its soil as a "trip-wire" that would trigger automatic US involvement in any new conflict on the Korean Peninsula.

[gcruse]

Can't relocate North and no point in moving east or west. So maybe we're moving South. That leaves the DMZ guard for the SK to take care of. I hope this is the first phase in getting us out of there altogether.

[HAL9000]

U.S. to Shift Seoul Garrison as Soon as Possible

SEOUL (Reuters) - The United States said on Wednesday it would relocate a sprawling garrison in central Seoul as soon as possible as part of a realignment of its 37,000-strong troop contingent in South Korea.

Washington has kept troops stationed on the divided peninsula for 50 years to deter North Korea, but many South Koreans -- particularly the young with no memories of the U.S. role in the 1950-53 Korean War -- have come to resent their presence.

After an initial two-day meeting of senior South Korean and U.S. officials on how to alter the size and location of the U.S. forces, a joint statement said the two sides had agreed to shift the Yongsan garrison in Seoul "as soon as possible."

The statement said the aim was "to resolve inconveniences to Seoul citizens."

The United States, it said, expressed understanding of South Korean concerns regarding the alignment of its troops, including the presence of the 2nd Infantry Division stationed just south of the fortified Demilitarized Zone that bisects the peninsula.

The United States would "consolidate" the structure of its bases, the statement said. Plans call for fewer bases and for the bases to be away from towns and cities where possible.

The formal troops talks were the first since President Roh Moo-hyun came to office in February vowing to seek a more equal partnership with Washington.

But since he took power, Roh has urged Washington not to make any hasty decisions while the standoff over North Korea continues. Washington, by contrast, is pushing for some changes soon even as it keeps an eye on North Korea's suspected nuclear weapons ambitions, diplomats say.

The talks could result in pulling back some troops from positions near the border with the North or withdrawing some from the South altogether. The South fears that could send the wrong signal to North Korea.

The statement said the two governments had agreed in principle that, as U.S. troops are shifted, the South Korean military would take on an expanded role by assuming responsibility for selected missions.

"The two sides agreed that there would be no compromise in the combined deterrence of their forces throughout the process of realignment," it said.

The talks were co-chaired by Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy assistant defense secretary for East Asia, and Lieutenant-General Cha Young-koo, South Korean assistant defense minister for policy.

The next meeting was scheduled for the United States in May.

[zarf]

Agreed. No more thumb sucking for SK. They've grown up and need to stand up or deal with the consequences of sucking up to "Dear Leader".

[ellery]

yeah! bump

[FairOpinion]

"I hope this is the first phase in getting us out of there altogether."
----

I think it is. There were all those anti-US protests, and I think even the current idiot president of S. Korea was telling us to get out, and Rumsfeld said, fine, we'll be happy to, then there was some change, but apparently not enough. If S. Korea doesn't appreciate us being there, we can let N. Korea overrun them, because what do you think is going to happen the minute we leave?

[txzman]

Did anyone catch Dan Blather's interview with a composite of young and old South Koreans? All of the young South Korean yuppies said they fear George Bush more than they do Crazy Eddy in North Korea.

Let them have him.

[Fredsterman]

I would pull all US troops out now. Then inform the UN that this is their fight. They didn't want the US to take care of Iraq. Fine they can take care of this mess they've made. An unchecked Iraq of-sotrs.

[Fredsterman]

I can't imagine North Korea deciding to war against the South if we left. It would serve them right though. Doesn't it seem odd that most of the protesters against war, and America; are in areas where they themselves would be swatted first?

[gcruse]

. If S. Korea doesn't appreciate us being there, we can let N. Korea overrun them, because what do you think is going to happen the minute we leave?

Fredsterman has a point.  This is a UN deal.  Why aren't UN troops there in place of ours?
Besides, if we leave, SK seems to think NK is no longer a threat, so what's to worry?

[HAL9000]

If S. Korea doesn't appreciate us being there, we can let N. Korea overrun them, because what do you think is going to happen the minute we leave?

North Korea will invade the South, the U.S. economy will collapse and Hillary Clinton will be elected President.

[Mo1]

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[zarf]

Nonsense!! Hillary will be crowned Queen for Life.

[FairOpinion]

"North Korea will invade the South, the U.S. economy will collapse and Hillary Clinton will be elected President."

----

LOL! I think when there were a lot of communist countries and Russia was trying to keep expanding, it was important that we stop them and not let them gain and inch. But now I doubt that S. Korea is all that important to us.

I think the only concern is that China may feel this is a green light for them to invade Taiwan and maybe even Japan, which of course couldn't be allowed.

[dmeara]

Perhaps those Korean anti-American protesters would be happy to be on the front lines. We have been there long enough.

[gcruse]

Couldn't agree with you more.

[HAL9000]

But now I doubt that S. Korea is all that important to us.

If you'd like a preview of a U.S. withdrawal from South Korea, open your computer, pull out the RAM memory chips and see how well it works then.

[FairOpinion]

Well, a lot of key electronics is made in China, so I am sure a unified communist Korea will be happy to sell them to us too.

Not that I want a unified communist Korea.

[HAL9000]

Well, a lot of key electronics is made in China, so I am sure a unified communist Korea will be happy to sell them to us too.

After the U.S. is chased out by the vocal minority of anti-U.S. South Koreans, I'm sure President Hillary Clinton would be happy to lift the trade sanctions on the unified communist Korea, and Microsoft and IBM would be able to resume business in a few years. No problem.