U.S. GPR to Take at Least Four to Six Years

In regards to the Global Defense Posture Review (GPR), U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld said on August 15, “The GPR will take this plan at least four to six years to be officially confirmed, and then we can announce a concrete picture of it.”

He made the remark on his way back home after finishing a tour of Europe and Asia and stressed, “Accordingly, there will be no announcement regarding the GPR for the time being.”

His remark came right after a report was made public that George W. Bush would announce a plan to withdraw 70,000 to 100,000 U.S. overseas troops on August 16.

Also, Rumsfeld made no mention of the number of armies to be relocated according to the GPR.

Concerning the main features of the GPR, he said that it maximizes the efficiency of military forces, withdraws more forces, increases force flexibility, and arranges joint training exercises with various countries.

“We will station our forces in places that demand it and legally warrant it,” said Rumsfeld after he mentioned the reduction of the U.S. military forces in Germany, which has been stationed there against attack from the Soviet Union since the cold war.

The U.S. notified the Korean government that it would withdraw 12,500 from the total of 37,000 U.S. troops in Korea according to the GPR, and the timing and method are under discussion.

Seung-Ryun Kim srkim@donga.com