U.S.: Korean Troop Cut Was a Surprise

On November 21, when asked whether the U.S. knew about the cut in the number of troops from the Zaytun Unit and if it had agreed to the plan, U.S. State Department spokesman Adam Ereli didn’t give a direct answer, saying, “It’s true that Korea is examining the unit’s future stationing in consideration with the development of the situation in Iraq, and that is our position.”

However, spokesman of the U.S. Defense Department for Asia and Pacific Affairs Brian Maka told Yonhap News that the U.S. came to know of Korea’s planned cut in troops stationed in Iraq via reports from the Korean press before the Korean government officially announced it, and that the U.S. also collected information on the size of reduction from the reports of the press, by which he suggested that the discussion between Korea and the U.S. didn’t occur smoothly.

Soon-Taek Kwon maypole@donga.com