LEAD) U.S. troops in S. Korea subject to rotational deployment to Afghanistan: Obama

(LEAD) Obama-US troops

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By Sam Kim
SEOUL, Nov. 20 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama indicated during his trip
to South Korea this week that individual American troops stationed here are
subject to rotation for deployment to Afghanistan, according to a transcript of
his speech.

"The story of your service goes beyond this peninsula," Obama told a group of
U.S. Forces Korea troops on Thursday in the last portion of his four-nation Asian
trip. "You volunteered in a time of war, knowing that you can be sent into harm's
way."
"Many of you served in Iraq. You've given people a chance of self-government
there. Others among you served in Afghanistan," he said. "Others among you will
deploy yet again."
The U.S. has 28,500 troops stationed here as a deterrent against North Korea.
U.S. troops were deployed from the 2nd Infantry Division in South Korea to Iraq
in 2004 to boost U.S. operations there in the form of rotation without a
reduction in the troop size here.
U.S. Adm. Mike Mullen, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said last month in
South Korea that the allies are discussing the rotation of some of the U.S.
troops here to Afghanistan, where the U.S. is fighting insurgency. The U.S.
assured its ally that there will be no reduction in the number of its troops
stationed in South Korea.
samkim@yna.co.kr
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