South Korea rejects claims of planned reduction in US troop presence

South Korea’s Ministry of National Defence firmly denied reports suggesting that Seoul and Washington have been discussing a reduction in the American military presence on the Korean Peninsula.

The statement follows a Wall Street Journal report alleging that the United States is considering cutting its troop numbers in South Korea from 28,500 to approximately 24,000.

According to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency, the Ministry clarified on May 22 that “there was no discussion of issues related to the withdrawal of the US contingent between the Republic of Korea and the United States”, Caliber.Az reports.

The ministry reaffirmed that Seoul remains committed to strengthening joint defence capabilities in partnership with Washington, with the goal of ensuring peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula.

The Wall Street Journal report had fueled speculation over a possible troop cut amid broader debates within the US defence and strategic community about reallocating American military resources. During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing last month, top military commanders expressed serious reservations about any reduction of US Forces Korea (USFK).

Admiral Samuel Paparo Jr., Commander of US Indo-Pacific Command, warned that a decrease in US troops could embolden North Korea, saying, “With the loss of the force on the Korean Peninsula, there’s a higher probability that [Kim Jong Un] would invade.”

General Xavier Brunson, Commander of USFK, echoed those concerns, describing any drawdown as “problematic.” He emphasised the strategic value of the American presence in Korea, noting its broader role in deterring threats from China and Russia as well. “What we do provide there is the potential to impose costs in the East Sea to Russia, the potential to impose costs in the West Sea to China, and to continue to deter against North Korea,” Brunson said.

Brunson further stressed the enduring role of USFK: “In over 75 years, they’ve done the same — prepare, deter, and, if needed, prevail in conflict.”

Amid these concerns, questions have mounted over whether former President Donald Trump’s “America First” doctrine, which emphasises reducing costly overseas military commitments, could influence defence policy if his administration returns to power. Observers note that this could lead to a reassessment of the USFK mission or even a restructuring of the American military footprint in the region.

Elbridge Colby, Under Secretary of Defence and one of the architects of Trump-era defence policy, has advocated for refocusing USFK’s role toward countering China. In a 2024 interview with Yonhap News Agency, Colby stated, “U.S. forces on the peninsula, in my view, should not be held hostage to dealing with the North Korean problem because that is not the primary issue for the U.S. The U.S. should be focused on China and the defence of South Korea from China over time.”

Currently, Colby is leading the drafting of a new National Defence Strategy under Defence Secretary Pete Hegseth. The new plan is expected to prioritise deterring Chinese threats while pushing for increased “burden sharing” by allies, including South Korea.

Should a reduction in USFK forces eventually materialise, it would likely trigger significant controversy in South Korea, where such a move could be perceived as a weakening of America’s security commitment to one of its key treaty allies. Seoul, for its part, continues to seek closer security coordination not only with Washington but also with Tokyo, particularly in light of North Korea’s accelerating missile and nuclear weapons development and its growing military ties with Russia.

By Tamilla Hasanova