NewsMine — war-on-terror — north-korea — Viewing Item

Us considers skorea withdraw { March 6 2003 } Original Source Link: (May no longer be active)    http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=2338622 http://reuters.com/newsArticle.jhtml?type=worldNews&storyID=2338622 U.S. Considers Withdrawing Troops from South Korea Thu March 6, 2003 01:19 PM ET By Will Dunham WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on Thursday the stationing of U.S. troops near the border with North Korea has become intrusive to South Korea, and said forces could be moved southward or out of South Korea altogether. Rumsfeld said Army Gen. Leon LaPorte, commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, and others are considering ways to realign American forces on the Korea Peninsula. This comes as the United States is engaged in an increasingly tense crisis over North Korea's nuclear ambitions. The United States has about 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea near the Demilitarized Zone separating that democracy from communist North Korea. During a town hall-style meeting with Defense Department employees at the Pentagon, Rumsfeld said that to some extent the location of U.S. forces in South Korea and in Europe is a leftover from the Cold War. "We still have a lot of forces in Korea arranged very far forward where it's intrusive in their lives and where they really aren't very flexible or usable for other things," Rumsfeld said. Rumsfeld said South Korea possesses an economy probably 25 to 35 times greater than North Korea's, adding that the South Koreans have "all the capability in the world of providing the kind of up-front deterrent that's needed." "And I suspect that what we'll do is we'll end up making some adjustments there," Rumsfeld said. "Whether the forces would come home or whether they'd move farther south on the peninsula or whether they'd move to some neighboring area are the kinds of things that are being sorted out. The same thing's true with our forces in Western Europe." Rumsfeld's comments amplified remarks he made in Feb. 13 testimony before the Senate Armed Services Committee. Rumsfeld said U.S. officials are consulting with the South Korean government ahead of making a final decision. STABILIZING PRESENCE The United States for half a century has maintained a stabilizing military presence in South Korea, since the Korean War. New South Korean President Roh Moo-hyun has asked the United States to study the bilateral relationship. The presence of American troops has become increasingly controversial in the past year, with some critics in South Korea saying the Bush administration has hindered closer ties with North Korea. There also is concern in South Korea about alleged crimes committed by U.S. troops. White House and defense officials last month said the United States was considering shifts in global military deployments, including the thousands of U.S. troops in Europe. About 70,000 of the nearly 110,000 U.S. troops in Europe are in Germany, a vocal foe of a possible U.S.-led war against Iraq. Rumsfeld did not state when a decision would be made, but said the Pentagon is "almost through the process of looking at our force structure" around the world. He added that whatever changes would not change that "we are engaged in the world (and) we care about assisting our friends and allies."

2008-peace nuclear 100 missiles aimed us cities { May 4 2003 } 1m nkoreans protest { June 26 2003 } Aid from china Big blast mushroom cloud reported in Nkorea Carter blames bush for north korea nuclear test China center stage north korea talks { August 28 2003 } Considers canceling talks already Defector tells congress heroin production Heroin trail leads north korea { May 12 2003 } Israel helps china { December 9 2002 } Japan alarmed by nkorea missile test { June 20 2006 } Japan downplays nkorea provocation { February 26 2003 } Japan nkorea Japan raises defenses on north korea missile test plans { September 24 2004 } Japan threatens nkorea { February 13 2003 } Korean clash Korean jets lock us aircraft { March 4 2003 } Korean migs intercepted reconnaissance Korean official drug ship { May 3 2003 } Missiles can hit us { February 12 2003 } Muclear pact dead document { May 13 2003 } Nkorea cautions security council { April 9 2003 } Nkorea chief vows punishment Nkorea fired laser at troops { May 13 2003 } Nkorea fires anti ship missile { March 31 2003 } Nkorea global threat Nkorea issues war warning { April 24 2003 } Nkorea missile could reach us Nkorea seeks talks with US over missile Nkorea ship yemen { December 11 2002 } Nkorea warns preemptive action { February 6 2003 } Nkorea warns sea of fire Nkorea warns us retaliation sanctions Nkorea will face world action if weapons exports continue North korea opium { April 23 2003 } North korea prepares for US war { April 7 2004 } North korea test nuclear missile { October 12 2006 } North korea tests long range missile { July 5 2006 } North korea to test missile capable of hitting US Pentagon plans nkorea bombing raid { April 22 2003 } Perle asks north korea strike { June 11 2003 } Raises ww3 fears { January 10 2003 } Russia predicts northkorea catasrophy { April 24 2003 } Sanctions means war Shift troops skorea { March 7 2003 } Skorea fires shots South koreans support north against US Taliban revival north korea { April 9 2003 } Tennessee arms north korea US allows north koreans to sell arms { April 8 2007 } US and north korea hold nuclear talks { March 5 2007 } Us cant rule out strike { June 11 2003 } Us considered nkorea war Us considers skorea withdraw { March 6 2003 } US reaches nuclear deal with north korea { January 2007 } Us urges nkorea sanctions { April 9 2003 } Washington grim warning { February 4 2003 } We can hit anywhere Yemen demands ship return Files Listed: 59

Correction/submissions

CIA FOIA Archive

National Security Archives

This site contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of environmental, political, human rights, economic, democracy, scientific, and social justice issues, etc. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information, go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purpose of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.