The joint statement between the leaders of South Korea and the United States indicates that Washington will not relocate its major combat unit stationed in the vicinity of the heavily-armed inter-Korean border until North Korea's nuclear issue is resolved, defense officials said. They said the summit also helped defuse concerns among South Koreans that Washington will reduce or withdraw its 37,000 troops currently based in South Korea. In an apparent reference to the realignment of the 2nd U.S. Infantry Division, the statement said, "They shared the view that the relocation of U.S. bases north of the Han River (in Seoul) should be pursued, taking careful account of the political, economic and security situation on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia."
Lt. Gen. Cha Young-koo, deputy minister for policy at Seoul's Defense Ministry, said the statement implied that the U.S. side will defer its alleged plan to realign the 2nd Infantry Division. "The United States meant it will take more time to resolve the matter on the relocation of the infantry division, in view of the North's nuclear threats and other regional issues," Cha said. |