Khaberni - A policy document from the US Department of Defense (Pentagon) indicates that the department expects the United States to play a «more limited» role
in deterring North Korea, transferring a greater part of the responsibility to South Korea, a step likely to stir concerns in Seoul.
South Korea hosts about 28,500 US troops as part of the joint defense against any military threat posed by North Korea, and Seoul has increased its defense budget by 7.5% this year.
The National Defense Strategy document, which guides Pentagon policies, states that «South Korea is capable of assuming the primary responsibility for deterring North Korea with vital, but more limited, US support».
The document added that «this shift in the balance of responsibility aligns with America's interest in modernizing the status of US forces on the Korean Peninsula».
In recent years, some US officials have expressed a desire to make US forces in South Korea more flexible to potentially operate outside the Korean Peninsula to deal with a broader range of threats, such as defending Taiwan and countering the growing military influence of China.
Seoul Resists
South Korea resists the idea of changing the role of US forces, but has been developing its defense capabilities over the past twenty years, aiming to be able to take over the leadership of the joint US-South Korean forces in wartime. South Korea has 450,000 soldiers.
The comprehensive document published by each new administration states that the Pentagon's priority is homeland defense.
Regarding the Indian and Pacific Oceans region, the document states that the Pentagon focuses on ensuring that China does not dominate the United States or its allies.
The 25-page document, which does not mention Taiwan by name, adds: «This does not require regime change or any other existential conflict. Rather, decent peace, on terms favorable to Americans while being acceptable to China and can be lived under, is feasible».
China claims that Taiwan, a democratically governed island, is part of its territory and has not ruled out the use of force to take control of the island. Taiwan rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims and says that only the people of Taiwan have the right to decide their future.
