U.S. Troops` Role as Tripwire is Unfair

A high-ranking official at the U.S. Defense Department made it clear on Mar.18 that the U.S. thinks it is unfair for American troops stationed in South Korea to play a role as a “tripwire` in case of any possible North Korea`s military aggression and the term, `tripwire` should not be used. The U.S. official added that the U.S. government wants to move the U.S. army base in Yongsan to an alternative site at an earlier date and relocate the U.S. Second Infantry Division to the south of the Han River.

The senior Pentagon official disclosed the U.S. government`s position in a meeting with Korean correspondents in Washington on condition of anonymity. “If Koreans want the withdrawal of American troops stationed in South Korea, we will do so, even tomorrow,” he added.

As a result that a senior official at the Pentagon unveiled the U.S. government`s position on sensitive and pressing issues facing the two nations, such as the role and realignment of American troops in South Korea with the ever-rising tensions on the Korean Peninsula caused by North Korea`s nuclear threat, consultations between the two nations to be held in the upcoming April are drawing public attention.

The senior U.S. Pentagon official said it is unfair for Koreans to ask American troops to play a role as a `tripwire` in case of any military conflicts. The meaning of a tripwire is that the Korean Peninsular cannot be protected, if American troops do not shed bloods first. And he also added that the U.S. doesn`t want the term, `tripwire` to be used again.

“The U.S. government wants to move the U.S. Second Infantry Division stationed in Dongducheon, Gyeonggi Province to the south of the Han River. And the relocation of American troops will be a more powerful deterrence against North Korea`s military attack. The U.S. government is planning to carry out the realignment of U.S. troops in a gradual manner,” he said.

“Even after the relocation of American troops in Korea, if there is a North Korea`s invasion of South Korea, the U.S. will automatically engage in a possible war. On the premise of that, in the event of a war on the Korean Peninsular, the North will launch missile attacks against U.S. military bases in south of Seoul,” he added.

On the right of having the wartime military command, he said, “The U.S. is satisfied with the current military command system and doesn`t want any change. However, if Korea wants to discuss the matter, we will fully cooperate. And the issue I think will need in-depth bilateral consultations.”

He also added that the U.S. expects the upcoming bilateral consultation beginning from April to provide an opportunity as a `joint consultation to improve the Korea-U.S. alliance. He expects that a blue print for the future relationship between the two nations will be drawn up by the time when the two nations will cerebrate the 50th anniversary of the U.S.-South Korea alliance.

maypole@donga.com