Rumsfeld Tells Seoul US May Pull Out Forces: Report

Korea Times | February 7, 2003 | Seo Soo-min

[Stand Watch Listen]

The U.S. has notified South Korea of its willingness to withdraw its military from South Korea if such a request is placed by the South Korean side, MBC television reported yesterday.

Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld, during a meeting on Monday with President-elect Roh Moo-hyun's special envoy Chyung Dai-chul, told him of Washington's intention to initially implement a gradual cutback of forces and redeployment of ground troops to the rear, the network said.

``I agree to the views being spread in South Korea on the removal of U.S. Forces Korea, and the U.S. is willing and ready to do that," Rumsfeld was quoted as saying.

The defense secretary went on to say that he is willing to take any measure regarding the USFK that is what the South Korean public wants, the MBC report said, quoting anonymous sources.

To begin with, Rumsfeld requested that Washington and Seoul start discussing the transfer of USFK bases north of the Han River, including the main Yongsan Base, to locations south of Pyongtaek, some 70 kilometers south of Seoul.

Deputy Secretary of Defense Paul Wolfowitz relayed nearly identical views in a separate meeting with Chang Young-dal, chairman of the national defense committee at the National Assembly Tuesday.

[Elenya]

And while we're at it, get them out of Germany too

...and the Balkans.

[biblewonk]

Wow that's a huge change from the early 80's when I was in the Army. It seemed like 1 out of 6 guys I met had been on a tour to Korea and they said the Korean soldiers loved us.

[Chad Fairbanks]

they said the Korean soldiers loved us.

Well of course THEY do... ;0)

[gaspar]

It is time to make Korea an Asian problem. If the United States begins to move out Japan will respond by threatening to begin an atomic weapons program. That will scare hell out of China and it will step in and quash North Korea -- like it should have been doing right along.