A senior official at Cheong Wa Dae stated that the deterrence posture against North Korea will not be affected by any potential relocation of US military assets in South Korea. The official emphasized that South Korea’s military capability, defense spending, industry capacity, and troop morale ensure strong deterrence against North Korea, regardless of any shifts in USFK assets.
While reports suggested the movement of parts of a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and other air defense units by USFK from South Korea, the official refrained from confirming these details. The official highlighted that commenting on military operations between Korea and the US was not appropriate for the South Korean government.
South Korea and the US have maintained close coordination to uphold a robust combined defense posture, as reported by Yonhap news agency. Both countries are committed to sustaining a strong defense posture to promote peace and stability in the Korean Peninsula and the region, with continuous communication and coordination being key to achieving this goal.
South Korean President Lee Jae Myung reassured that any potential relocation of US military assets in South Korea would not impact the deterrence strategy against North Korea. Despite reports of possible shipments of weapons, including an anti-missile defense system by USFK, Lee affirmed that the deterrence strategy remains unaffected by such movements. Lee’s remarks did not directly address the specifics of USFK’s military asset repositioning.
