U.S. to move troops from S. Korea

[younggiftedandblack]

SEOUL, South Korea (AP) -- Washington wants to move some of the 37,000 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea to Iraq, South Korean officials say.

"The U.S. government has told us that it needs to select some U.S. troops in South Korea and send them to Iraq to cope with the worsening situation in Iraq," said Kim Sook, head of the South Korean Foreign Ministry's North American Bureau.

"South Korea and the United States are discussing the matter" and working out details including the number of U.S. troops to be redeployed, Kim said.

In Washington, a senior defense official confirmed that the Pentagon is in discussions with Seoul about using some Korea-based U.S. forces in Iraq.

The official, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the shift was not imminent but would be part of the next rotation of American troops in Iraq, which is scheduled to begin late this (northern hemisphere) summer.

Tapping into the U.S. military force in Korea would be an historic move by the Pentagon.

It underscores the degree to which the military is stretched to provide enough forces for Iraq while also meeting its other commitments.

The United States has maintained troops in South Korea since the end of the Korean War in 1953.

Seoul has feared that a cut in the U.S. military presence might weaken the two allies' combined defense readiness against North Korea amid tension over the communist state's nuclear weapons program.

The inter-Korean border remains the world's most heavily armed.

Washington has earlier indicated that it planned to redeploy U.S. troops from South Korea but said it would shore up its forces there with newer weapons, including Patriot anti-missile systems.

The main U.S. combat force in South Korea is the Army's 2nd Infantry Division.

One of its brigades has traditionally been stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, as a reserve force for Korea.

That brigade, which was the first in the Army to transition from tanks to the new Stryker wheeled vehicle, is already in Iraq.

Link

[Bhodi_Li]

Yes!!! About time, now there will be 2 2ID Brigades with combat patches + hopefully they won't have to return to Korea.

U.S. confirms S. Korea troop cut

U.S. confirms S. Korea troop cut

'Redeployment to meet worsening Iraq situation'

From CNN Pentagon Producer Mike Mount
Monday, May 17, 2004 Posted: 11:29 PM EDT (0329 GMT)

WASHINGTON -- The United States has notified South Korea and Japan it plans to move about 3,600 troops from South Korea to Iraq, senior Pentagon officials confirmed to CNN.

The troops will come from the 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division and are expected to deploy around June.

The move to tap its forces in South Korea is an historic one by the Pentagon, as the Korean Peninsula is the Cold War's last remaining flashpoint.

Some in South Korea fear any cut in U.S. military presence might weaken its defense readiness against the million-man army of North Korea, the world's fifth largest military.

The troops of the 2nd Brigade would be deployed to Iraq for up to a year, but combined with their regularly assigned deployment to South Korea, some troops could be kept from their home bases from 18 months up to 24 months, Pentagon officials said.

The brigade was selected because it had not done a tour in Iraq or Afghanistan.

The Pentagon says it has not decided whether the 3,600 troops would return to South Korea after the deployment, saying it would depend on the security situation on the peninsula.

That decision would be made while the troops are already in Iraq as part of the Pentagon's ongoing review of how to best place U.S. troops around the world.

While the 2nd Brigade is gone from the Korean peninsula, additional assets would be rotated through South Korea.

Additionally, there would be an "earmarking" of Air Force aircraft and intelligence and reconnaissance assets as well as a Navy aircraft carrier to be on standby if needed.

There are over 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea helping defend the border between North and South Korea.

A decision must still be made whether the 2nd Brigade, which uses Abrams tanks and Bradley Fighting Vehicles, will be bringing it own assets to Iraq or if they will use what is left from troops departing the war zone.

The U.S. started notifying Korean and Japanese officials this past weekend and completed the notification Monday, Pentagon officials said.

While Washington has labeled North Korea part of an "axis of evil," along with pre-war Iraq and Iran, a troop move underscores how much the U.S. military is stretched to provide enough forces for Iraq while also meeting its other commitments.


"The U.S. government has told us that it needs to select some U.S. troops in South Korea and send them to Iraq to cope with the worsening situation in Iraq," Kim Sook, head of the South Korean Foreign Ministry's North American Bureau, said Monday.

The 2nd Infantry Division is deployed along the tense border with North Korea, the world's most heavily armed dividing line.

Washington has previously indicated it wanted to reduce troops at the border while shoring up its military might in South Korea by deploying newer weapons, including Patriot anti-missile systems, that could protect against North Korean missiles.

U.S. troops came to South Korea to liberate it from Japanese colonialists at the end of World War II.

They led U.N. forces that defended South Korea from North Korean invaders aided by China and the then-Soviet Union.

The two Koreas remain technically at war, because their conflict ended in an armed truce that has never been converted into a peace treaty.

The U.S. troops have since stayed on.

The U.S. military presence buttresses South Korea's 650,000-soldier military to guard against North Korea and forms a key element in U.S. military strategy in the region.

[SunWuKong]

merged.

[yoMAMA]

meanwhile.....dear leader kim jun II and his military commanders has began the planning of the invasion of south korea, code named "opeartion big hair day".

[ShortNBitter]

Is the North and South Korea political situation still so intense that we have to worry that North Korea will attack South Korea>?? It seems unlikely to me, but I really don't know much about Korean Politics and Military...

[Bhodi_Li]

The official statement

Second to None!

2ID brigade deploying from Korea to Iraq

By Jim Garamone

WASHINGTON (AFPS/ARNEWS, May 18, 2004) -- About 3,600 Soldiers of the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division will deploy to Iraq this summer from the Republic of Korea, Defense Department officials said May 17.

The deployment will reduce U.S. troop strength in Korea by about 10 percent. This reduction decision can be made with impunity, a senior DoD official said speaking on background, because of the beefed-up capabilities the United States has on the Korean peninsula.

More capable air assets, a Patriot-3 brigade, rotating Stryker battalions, and far better command, control, computers, communications and intelligence facilities more than make up for the drop of U.S. troops in South Korea to 34,000, the official said.

"Ongoing global posture review is strengthening our position in Asia and Korea," said Richard Lawless, deputy defense undersecretary for Asia-Pacific policy. "This strengthened global and regional posture, including our efforts under way in Korea to realign U.S. forces and enhance our capabilities, allows us to employ our forces worldwide in a more flexible manner."

Lawless said that if needed, the United States can quickly augment air and naval presence in the Asia-Pacific region.

Officials said Korean and Japanese leaders were informed of and agreed with the U.S. decision send the 2nd Brigade, 2ID to Iraq. They said it is part of the overall look at U.S. global posture.

The troops will spend one year in Iraq. Since military tours of Korea are typically one-year unaccompanied tours, some soldiers will spend up to two years separated from their families. Officials said the majority will spend between 12 and 18 months away from home. No decision has been made on whether the brigade will return to Korea following its tour of duty in Iraq.

A senior military official said the troops are fully combat ready, and that this will allow the stress to be "balanced" throughout the force. He said DoD also is looking at changing the tour length of Marine forces assigned to Iraq. Currently, Marines spend seven months in Iraq and seven months home.

Troops of the 2nd Brigade, 2ID, now stationed near the demilitarized zone in Korea, will begin deploying to Iraq in mid-summer, a senior DoD official said.

The 3rd Brigade of the 2nd ID, also known as the Stryker Brigade Combat Team, has been in northern Iraq since early this year. The SBCT deployed to Iraq from its home base of Fort Lewis, Wash., in November. The brigade became part of "Task Force Olympia" early this year and took over operational control of northern Iraqi provinces Feb. 5 from the 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault)in Mosul.

This summer's deployment of the 2nd Brigade will place two of 2nd Infantry Division's three brigades in Iraq. The 1st Brigade of the 2ID will remain in Korea.

(Jim Garamone writes for the American Forces Press Service and this article was first posted on AFPS the afternoon of May 17. Information was added by the Army News Service May 18.)

Originally Posted by younggiftedandblack

One of its brigades has traditionally been stationed at Fort Lewis, Washington, as a reserve force for Korea.

That brigade, which was the first in the Army to transition from tanks to the new Stryker wheeled vehicle, is already in Iraq.

That's us!

[Bhodi_Li]

Originally Posted by yoMAMA

meanwhile.....dear leader kim jun II and his military commanders has began the planning of the invasion of south korea, code named "opeartion big hair day".

I was chatting with my former KATUSA (Korean Agumentee To the United States Army) and he was saying that there is some concern about this move. However, I say, let's leave especially after all the Korean protests, some of which have even made it on to these forums. How often have I heard from Koreans, "we don't need the US here." So if that's one less brigade that has to be OCONUS I say good. If the DPK attacks, well they don't need us there.

On the other hand, for the soldiers of 2/2ID, this could come as a big giant drop kick in the balls. They will be extended from their separation and have no idea where they will be going afterwards. That's a significant emotional event. You could say that when they returned from Korea chances were that they would deploy anyways so they might as well just get to over with, but still, giong to Korea is hard enough at first.

The good things

1) A second 2ID Brigade will become combat vets. That's so exciting b/c we've all talked about how the 3/2 was going to be the only ones wearing the combat patch. Now we have 2 brigades from 2ID, brothers-in-arms. When I first came into Iraq, people would look at my patch and say "Whoa, 2ID is here, the shit must have hit the fan." I told them we were from Fort Lewis, WA, but it would appear that the shit really is hitting the fan. Plus it's very hard to be assigned somewhere when there's combat occuring and not be able to participate. I went crazy during 9/11 while I was stationed in Korea. I once told my family, "War is terrifying, but missing out when it's occuring is like training all your life for the big game and then getting benched." Still I would rather it never occur.

2) A reduction in the number of soldiers in Korea. A 10% reduction doesn't sound like much, but this will help create more space for the Area I soldiers. Land space is a luxury in Korea and there is constant bickering about the large amounts of land that the US bases occupy. They are executing a base consolidation plan, but if 2/2 doesn't return that's a significant reduction in the local population.

3) Political benefits. After so much politic-ing was done on why 2ID should leave Area I, the Koreans are finally getting what they have been asking for. I realize that not all Koreans feel this way, but a significant number of the younger ones do. Now, in the unlikely event of war with N. Korea, that would mean that the S. Koreans would have one less brigade helping them out, but if you've analyzed how the war might occur, you already have a good idea of what might happen to 2ID.

My questions

1) If 2/2 doesn't return to Korea, where will they go? Will it count as a PCS thereby allowing all the families to move there free of charge to the families?

2) This creates a significant adjustment to the war plan in Korea. Huge ramifications on force deployment. Some war planners are going to be pulling some long nights.

[younggiftedandblack]

My questions

1) If 2/2 doesn't return to Korea, where will they go? Will it count as a PCS thereby allowing all the families to move there free of charge to the families?

2) This creates a significant adjustment to the war plan in Korea. Huge ramifications on force deployment. Some war planners are going to be pulling some long nights.

1) I would think it would count as a PCS. In the Army when you guys finish up a remote like the one in Korea do you get to chose what base you want to go to next or do you guys stay in the same squadron your whole careers?

2) Not really. We have the capabilities to move troops in and out within a 72 hour period. We really don't need troops massed in Korea. I would just move them all out and put them on Guam, Hawaii or the West Coast.

[Bhodi_Li]

Originally Posted by younggiftedandblack

1) I would think it would count as a PCS. In the Army when you guys finish up a remote like the one in Korea do you get to chose what base you want to go to next or do you guys stay in the same squadron your whole careers?

2) Not really. We have the capabilities to move troops in and out within a 72 hour period. We really don't need troops massed in Korea. I would just move them all out and put them on Guam, Hawaii or the West Coast.

1) We have more say in where we go, but it's still needs of the army first. Generally you will not stay in the same unit your whole career, although there are some who have spent most of their career in the same unit. This is very common in units like the 82nd AB.

2) Troops may be able to be moved, but keep in mind that 2nd Brigade is a heavy brigade and has been well integrated into 2nd ID's war plan. Heavy forces take significantly longer to mobilze than light forces and are subject to transport availability (ships and aircrafts). The initial thrust of the North Koreans would be with heavy/mech units that the light forces would have a difficult time stopping or diverting (ALA Task Force Smith). The troops of the nearby area are not a heavy force AND they already have their own assigned role to play in the event of a war. The ROK will have to adjust their plan to cover down on the loss of forces in Area I.

South Korea's Response

Seoul Ready for US Redeployment
Roh Seeks to Set Up 'Cooperative Self-Defense' System

By Shim Jae-yun
Staff Reporter


President Roh Moo-hyun on Thursday ordered measures be taken to set up a ``cooperative self-defense’’ system to cope with the relocation of some of the U.S. forces here to Iraq.

Roh also called on the nation to approach the redeployment calmly, saying it has long been anticipated, presidential spokesman Yoon Tai-young said.

The instructions came during a meeting at Chong Wa Dae of security-related ministers, which was held for the first time since Roh’s return to office.

Participants in the meeting also discussed other security issues, such as the inter-Korean military talks and the construction of an industrial complex in Kaesung, North Korea, near the border village of Panmunjom.

Yoon quoted Roh as saying that security officials have been mapping out steps to deal with the realignment of the U.S. forces and said he praised their approach to the recent U.S. redeployment.

``South Korea and the U.S. have been closely consulting with regard to the forces redeployment and there is no need to harbor concern as the government has been preparing necessary steps,’’ Roh said.

The president also called for efforts to push forward the North Korean nuclear issue and improve the security environment on the peninsula by reducing inter-Korean military tensions.

The meeting was convened amid growing wariness over the U.S. realignment plan and the possibility of an eventual withdrawal of its forces.

Touching on the inter-Korean military meeting, Roh said there should be tangible progress in the talks to lay the groundwork to easing military tension and increasing trust between the two Koreas.

Roh also ordered steps be taken to open a test area this year at the Kaesung industrial park. He said the project is significant as it will open an era of peace and prosperity in the Northeast Asia and improve the inter-Korean relations.

The participants at the meeting included Prime Minister Goh Kun, Unification Minister Jeong Se-hyun, Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Ban Ki-moon, Defense Minister Cho Young-kil and presidential chief of staff Kim Woo-sik.

[yoMAMA]

haha...that's true...when the push comes to shove....i don't think south korea is any match for the north.