Relocation of USFK Has Negative Impact on National Security

Kim Hee-sang, presidential advisor for national defense, expressed concern over the relocation of the Yongsan Garrison and the movement of the U.S. Second Infantry Division

Southward, which is under consideration of the Korean government and the U.S. Forces In Korea.

During a keynote speech at a seminar on the post-Iraqi war international security order and the Korean Peninsula, co-hosted by Korea National Defense University and Korea University at the War Memorial in Yongsan, Central Seoul, the presidential advisor said that the possibility that the relocation of U.S. troops in Korea can deliver a positive message to North Korea, is very slim, considering the current crisis over North Korea`s nuclear weapons development.

He also raised a question over whether the U.S. troops who will focus on special operations in the future would be helpful for Korea`s security.

This is unusual that one of the nation`s top defense policy-makers expressed concern over the effect of the reshuffle of the U.S. troops stationed in Korea in public.

"From the U.S.` standpoint, North Korea, which is notorious for nuclear weapons development, drug smuggling and currency counterfeiting, cannot but be `part of an axis of evil` and one of the most dangerous threats," the advisor said. "Therefore, many officials within the Bush administration detest the Kim Jong-il government."

During a keynote speech, Maj. Gen. Timothy Donovan of USFK said, "When [situations on the Korean Peninsula] are uncertain, the U.S. will stick to the ROK-U.S. alliance and as long as most Koreans want the U.S. presence in Korea, we will stay here." However, he did not mention the relocation of USFK.

Meanwhile, Charles Campbell, commander of the U.S. Eighth Army, who had talked about the reduction in U.S. troops based in Korea in the pre-distributed speech text, stirred up troubles by canceling what he said.

Sang-Ho Yun ysh1005@donga.com