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| China-Japan-Koreas |
| Missile launches come as U.S. cuts troops |
| 2006-07-09 |
| North Korea’s missile launches come at a time when the number of U.S. troops in South Korea and other nearby Asian nations is declining and the Pentagon has been focusing more on a potential threat from China. As part of a worldwide realignment of American forces, the Pentagon is drawing down troops at some decades-old installations in Asia, and the region’s allies are taking more responsibility for their own defense. This has been accompanied by burgeoning U.S. naval strength in the Pacific. Pentagon figures show just under 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea, compared with 37,000 two years ago, with some troops being deployed instead to Iraq. In its biggest reorganization in two decades, the U.S. plans to bring down the number further to some 25,000 by 2008. Even so, North Korea says its missile program is partly for self-defense against an American threat. “The irony here is that a fair amount of what (North Korea) used to complain about — the militarization of the Korean Peninsula — is being reduced,” said analyst Dan Goure of the Lexington Institute think tank in Arlington, Va. As for U.S. military strength in eastern Asia, the plan is to break down large Cold War-era bases around the world, bring tens of thousands of uniformed personnel back to the United States and move some troops closer to potential hot spots so they can more quickly respond to conflicts. At the same time, saying it has an eye on surges in China’s defense spending, the Pentagon is trying to strengthen its Asia-Pacific force. The U.S. troop reduction in South Korea, where the U.S. has had a military presence since the Korean War, doesn’t necessarily mean decreased military capabilities in the region. “Part of the drawdown that you are seeing in Korea is because of South Korea’s eagerness and willingness to assume more responsibility for their own security, which is a good thing,” Pentagon press secretary Eric Ruff said. Similar restructuring is afoot in Japan, where the most recent Defense Department statistics show about 40,000 U.S. troops are stationed, including more than 15,000 Marines and more than 13,000 airmen. It also is home port for the Navy’s 7th Fleet. |
| Posted by:ryuge |
| #9 I wonder what will make them happy? for most NKers, a plate of biscuits and gravy |
| Posted by: Frank G 2006-07-09 23:36 |
| #8 Pity the poor North Koreans. For decades they have been screaming about the presence of U.S. troops. Now that the troops are being withdrawn, they are screaming that the U.S. will use missiles on them. I wonder what will make them happy? |
| Posted by: Fordesque 2006-07-09 23:13 |
| #7 Pull them all back to Pusan, and set up perimeter and so forth there - set up the "REFORGER" type stocks for heavy armor in the perimeter under US guard, and ditch the KATUSAs. Then tell the SKors to start writing their own checks. |
| Posted by: Oldspook 2006-07-09 17:33 |
| #6 Hey, Ima in the path, and Kimmie's aim is rather lame. Please reconsider. |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2006-07-09 17:19 |
| #5 LOL anon2u |
| Posted by: Penguin 2006-07-09 14:15 |
| #4 I want the next test missile targeted to Alaska, specifically ANWR. Oh, well, we'll just go in and put a few rigs up to contain the flow......... |
| Posted by: anonymous2u 2006-07-09 13:54 |
| #3 The Norks made the mistake of wasting vast amounts of money building something like the Maginot like facing the DMZ. Artillery emplaced deeply in mountains, connected by tunnels. Seoul could be devastated by this artillery. However, like the Germans, this just means that we adapt our strategy to make this defensive/offensive wall meaningless. Moving our forces back means that though they might kill a bunch of civilians, we will be able to counter at 100% military strength. |
| Posted by: Anonymoose 2006-07-09 13:03 |
| #2 Pentagon figures show just under 30,000 U.S. troops in South Korea Where's the Dem's |
| Posted by: Gleresh Whomort8073 2006-07-09 09:03 |
| #1 The SKs have been promoting constructive-engagement with the NKs, and the US was following their lead. Then KJI launches a missile in the direction of Hawaii while mouthing off about some non-existent 2nd strike capacity. Unfortunately, any time there appears to be a semblance of peace, the SK's find another tunnel from the north. Can't wait. |
| Posted by: Anginens Threreng8133 2006-07-09 07:11 |