ID :
31474
Fri, 11/21/2008 - 15:32
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://www.oananews.org//node/31474
The shortlink copeid
S. Koreans want continued U.S. presence in Korea after reunification: report
By Hwang Doo-hyong
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans appear to want a continued U.S. military presence in their country even after reunification of the divided Koreas, as they see the U.S. as a stabilizing force in Northeast Asia, a U.S. congressional research paper said Thursday.
"South Korea views the U.S. as a stabilizing presence in the region and sees the
U.S. as continuing to play an important role, even if Korean reunification were
to occur," the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in a
report to Congress. "In this vein, there appears to be a strong desire by South
Koreans for the U.S. government to retain its military forces there."
The report echoes the sentiments of South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee,
who recently called for continued deployment of U.S. troops on the Korean
Peninsula after reunification.
"Certain elements of the ROK-U.S. alliance must be upheld even after the
unification of the peninsula," Lee told a forum here last month. "I repeat, even
after the reunification of the two Koreas, the alliance will continue to
contribute to the security of the region."
Lee made his remarks while stressing that South Korea's retaking of the wartime
operational command control (OPCON) of its military from the U.S. in 2012 will
not affect the decades-old bilateral alliance, which dates back to the 1950-53
Korean War, during which the U.S. fought for South Korea against North Korea and
China.
The U.S. still maintains 28,500 troops on the Korean Peninsula as a legacy of the
war.
Critics worry that the proposed OPCON transfer will create a loophole in the
defense of South Korea from a possible invasion by nuclear-armed North Korea.
Pyongyang detonated its first nuclear device in 2006, and multilateral talks are
under way to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for
hefty economic benefits and diplomatic recognition.
Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. forces in Korea, also said last month, "The
United States is not leaving after the OPCON transfer," adding that the bilateral
alliance will "continue to stay strong."
The congressional report cited North Korea as the biggest security threat for
South Korea.
"The concern includes North Korea's nuclear capability, its missiles and anarchy
resulting from possible regime collapse," it said.
The report said the U.S. should remain South Korea's strong ally despite Seoul
expanding economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
WASHINGTON, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- South Koreans appear to want a continued U.S. military presence in their country even after reunification of the divided Koreas, as they see the U.S. as a stabilizing force in Northeast Asia, a U.S. congressional research paper said Thursday.
"South Korea views the U.S. as a stabilizing presence in the region and sees the
U.S. as continuing to play an important role, even if Korean reunification were
to occur," the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission said in a
report to Congress. "In this vein, there appears to be a strong desire by South
Koreans for the U.S. government to retain its military forces there."
The report echoes the sentiments of South Korean Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee,
who recently called for continued deployment of U.S. troops on the Korean
Peninsula after reunification.
"Certain elements of the ROK-U.S. alliance must be upheld even after the
unification of the peninsula," Lee told a forum here last month. "I repeat, even
after the reunification of the two Koreas, the alliance will continue to
contribute to the security of the region."
Lee made his remarks while stressing that South Korea's retaking of the wartime
operational command control (OPCON) of its military from the U.S. in 2012 will
not affect the decades-old bilateral alliance, which dates back to the 1950-53
Korean War, during which the U.S. fought for South Korea against North Korea and
China.
The U.S. still maintains 28,500 troops on the Korean Peninsula as a legacy of the
war.
Critics worry that the proposed OPCON transfer will create a loophole in the
defense of South Korea from a possible invasion by nuclear-armed North Korea.
Pyongyang detonated its first nuclear device in 2006, and multilateral talks are
under way to persuade the North to abandon its nuclear ambitions in return for
hefty economic benefits and diplomatic recognition.
Gen. Walter Sharp, commander of U.S. forces in Korea, also said last month, "The
United States is not leaving after the OPCON transfer," adding that the bilateral
alliance will "continue to stay strong."
The congressional report cited North Korea as the biggest security threat for
South Korea.
"The concern includes North Korea's nuclear capability, its missiles and anarchy
resulting from possible regime collapse," it said.
The report said the U.S. should remain South Korea's strong ally despite Seoul
expanding economic and diplomatic ties with Beijing.
hdh@yna.co.kr
(END)
