U.S. Secretary of Defense James Mattis (left) shakes hands with South Korean Defense Minister Song Young-moo before their meeting in Seoul, South Korea, on June 28. Mattis defended President Donald Trump’s decision to end “war games” but said the U.S. will maintain its presence in South Korea. Chung Sung-Jun/Pool via REUTERS
Newsweek: U.S. Military Will Stay in South Korea, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis Promises
The U.S. will maintain its “current” military presence in South Korea as part of an “ironclad” commitment to the country’s security, Defense Secretary Jim Mattis said on Thursday.
Mattis met with his South Korean counterpart Song Young-moo in Seoul, defending President Donald Trump’s decision to end “war games,” while also reassuring the East Asian ally of Washington’s continued dedication to responding to any threat.
“U.S. commitment to the Republic of Korea remains ironclad, and the U.S. will continue to use the full range of diplomatic and military capabilities to uphold this commitment,” the defense secretary said, Reuters reported. He also added that this commitment includes “maintaining the current U.S. force levels on the Korean peninsula.” Currently, the U.S. has about 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea
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