Korea, US to Discuss 'Strategic Flexibility' of American Forces

http://www.koreatimes.co.kr/www/news/nation/2008/06/205_25201.html



Korea, US to Discuss 'Strategic Flexibility' of American Forces



By Jung Sung-ki
Staff Reporter

The defense chiefs of South Korea and the United States will hold talks on issues of mutual concern today in Seoul, a spokesman for the Ministry of National Defense said Monday.

U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates arrived here Monday, after attending an annual security forum of Asian nations in Singapore. Defense Minister Lee Sang-hee also attended the forum.

Gates is scheduled to officiate in the change-of-command ceremony for Gen. Walter Sharp, the new commander of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) after a breakfast meeting with Lee, ministry spokesperson Won Tae-je told reporters. Sharp will replace Gen. B. B. Bell, who is to retire June 9.

This is the second visit to Seoul by the U.S. defense chief following his trip last October for the Security Consultative Meeting (SCM), an annual Korea-U.S. defense ministerial meeting, said Won.

High on the agenda for the Lee-Gates talks include the agreed transfer of wartime operational control of South Korean troops during wartime from the U.S. military to Korean commanders in 2012, the relocation of U.S. bases to south of the Han River, the potential deployment of U.S. troops to other regions, and defense cost-sharing for maintaining the USFK.

``We expect the two sides to freely discuss various issues of mutual concern,'' said Won. ``But it is unlikely the sides will reach any significant agreements during Tuesday's meeting.''

The outcome of the meeting will be made available in a joint press communique, he added.

U.S. ``strategic flexibility'' is expected to become a hot button issue, defense officials and experts say.

In a final media roundtable last Friday, outgoing USFK Commander Bell hinted that U.S. troops in South Korea could be deployed to other regions where the United States faces conflicts, such as Iraq and Afghanistan, if necessary.

``The issue of maintaining current troop levels and any potential for the deployment of any American combat capability from Korea to an active combat zone is an issue that will be addressed by our two nations' defense leaders during the coming months,'' Bell told reporters.

The leaders of the two nations agreed during their Camp David summit in April to halt the reduction of U.S. troops and maintain 28,500 on the Korean Peninsula.

Under a 2006 agreement, U.S. forces in South Korea are allowed to be dispatched swiftly to other parts of the world after consultations with the Korean government. But Seoul still fears such a move could turn the country into a forward base for the U.S. war on terrorism, while unnecessarily provoking North Korea.

gallantjung@koreatimes.co.kr