US Wants to Move Its 2nd Infantry Division Out Of Seoul

South Korean and U.S. representatives at a meeting to discuss the bilateral military alliance have agreed to push for the relocation of the Yongsan garrison in central Seoul as soon as possible, officials said Wednesday.

Lt. Gen. Cha Young-koo, assistant defense minister for policy, and Richard Lawless, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense for East Asia and the Pacific, announced after the first meeting of the "Future of the ROK-U.S. Alliance Policy Initiative" at a press conference that both sides have also agreed to continue discussions on the timing of the overall realignment process in a way that does not weaken their ability to deter North Korea`s military.

Assistance defense minister Cha and U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense Lawless said, “At this meeting, issues regarding the reduction of U.S. forces stationed in Korea and relocation of the U.S. second division to the south of Seoul were not discussed.”

However, U.S. deputy assistant secretary of defense Lawless` remark can be interpreted that although the two sides have agreed to relocate US 2nd division to an alternative site, they didn`t discuss whether they relocate it to the south of Seoul. It has been known that the U.S. side clearly expressed its intention of moving its infantry division to the south of Seoul at the meeting.

With regard to this issue, the Korean representatives delivered their government`s position that it is difficult to relocate the US 2nd division to the south of Seoul for the time being, considering enormous expenses for the relocation and difficulties in finding an alternative site. In addition, they said to the U.S. side that there are rising security concerns among Korean public worrying a possible withdrawal of U.S. infantry division from Seoul.

The South Korea and U.S. representatives clearly said that according to the development of military capacity, South Korean army would enhance its role of maintaining security on the Korean Peninsular, while U.S. forces would focus on securing stability in the Asian region.

At the press conference, although which role the Korean army would play in maintaining security on the Korean Peninsular down the road, it is clear that South Korea would have to increase defense expenses to strengthen military deterrence to North Korea`s attack if the U.S. reduces its role in defending the heavily fortified border line areas between the South and the North.

Furthermore, both sides have also agreed to continue discussions on the timing of the overall realignment process in a way that does not weaken their ability to deter North Korea`s military. They agreed to form a separate bilateral consultation body to discuss issue of handing over wartime military command to South Korea in the long-term perspective. Both sides will hold their second meeting in the U.S. next month.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com