It seems too early in the negotiations to commit to any troop cuts within USFK, but if North Korea does take serious measures to eliminate their nuclear program I could see this happening at some point in the future. I guess we will see what happens once the summit is complete:
President Trump
Concerns are rising that U.S. President Donald Trump may use reducing the number of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea as a bargaining chip for a denuclearization deal with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un.
Since taking office early last year, Trump has called for the need to scale down the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), as he believes Washington is not properly compensated for maintaining the troops here.
Trump has, for this reason, urged South Korea to take a bigger share in paying maintenance costs for the USFK during the ongoing negotiation to renew the five-year defense-cost-sharing for the American troops here. Under his “America First” policy, he said Seoul should take on more of the burden when renewing the agreement which expires at the end of this year.
“Less publicly, but still privately, Trump continues to say he does not agree with the argument that U.S. troops in South Korea are strategically necessary, and he thinks the U.S. gets nothing back from paying to keep them there,” Washington Post columnist Josh Rogin said in a recent column, citing administration officials and those who have had conversations with Trump regarding the issue.
“He (Trump) often asks his generals to explain the rationale for America’s deployments in Asia and expresses dissatisfaction with their answers.”
The White House and Pentagon denied the possibility for Trump to bring the agenda of downsizing U.S. troops to the dialogue table on Tuesday morning when the historic Washington-Pyongyang summit takes place in Singapore. [Korea Times]
Should have cut ground forces 10 years ago. No clear mission except to be here. On top of that, it is impossible to train in Korea. (Only place is ROD range and that place is closed half the time.). Let South Korea finally step up and get off daddy war buck’s lap.
Rascal1212
6 years ago
KJU may discuss the WMD we know about and will lie about. How do we know he lies….His lips are moving.
What’s is most wrong here…KJU runs a state run counterfeiting and drug operation. He tortures and kills. He is a cruel despot
AND HOLY STOMACH ACHE BATMAN today he is being wined and dined
as if he was the greatest thing to happen to humanity.
Rascal1212
6 years ago
Well President Trump just embarassed himself and the US by shaking the hand and sitting with the THUG. KJU and DPRK are equal(not) to the US. This is what the world sees. KJU will be the hero to his people showing them how he bought the US to its knees.
setnaffa
6 years ago
Rascal1212 wants us to believe he was a Trump voter who has suddenly been disappointed.
Trump could cure cancer and Rascal1212 would be complaining about all of the oncologists needing to be retrained.
SINGAPORE — President Trump said he “developed a very special bond” with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during their historic summit here Tuesday and proclaimed the start of a new era that could break a cycle of nuclear brinkmanship and stave off a military confrontation.
“Yesterday’s conflict does not have to be tomorrow’s war,” Trump said at a news conference in Singapore following more than four hours of talks with Kim.
Trump said Kim “reaffirmed” his commitment to denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and also agreed to destroy a missile site in the country.
Maybe I’m just too skeptical, but were there any reports of the DPRK damaging one of their missile test sites recently? “I offer to get rid of something I just broke” seems to be Kim’s latest trick.
U.S. won’t bring up North Korea’s human rights issues at Singapore summit
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/north-korea/u-s-won-t-bring-north-korea-s-human-rights-n880986
Should have cut ground forces 10 years ago. No clear mission except to be here. On top of that, it is impossible to train in Korea. (Only place is ROD range and that place is closed half the time.). Let South Korea finally step up and get off daddy war buck’s lap.
KJU may discuss the WMD we know about and will lie about. How do we know he lies….His lips are moving.
What’s is most wrong here…KJU runs a state run counterfeiting and drug operation. He tortures and kills. He is a cruel despot
AND HOLY STOMACH ACHE BATMAN today he is being wined and dined
as if he was the greatest thing to happen to humanity.
Well President Trump just embarassed himself and the US by shaking the hand and sitting with the THUG. KJU and DPRK are equal(not) to the US. This is what the world sees. KJU will be the hero to his people showing them how he bought the US to its knees.
Rascal1212 wants us to believe he was a Trump voter who has suddenly been disappointed.
Trump could cure cancer and Rascal1212 would be complaining about all of the oncologists needing to be retrained.
Troop cuts? So far that’s a “No.” Stopping joint training? Well…
http://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/trump-kim-summit-trump-says-us-will-end-its-%e2%80%98war-games%e2%80%99-with-south-korea/
Maybe I’m just too skeptical, but were there any reports of the DPRK damaging one of their missile test sites recently? “I offer to get rid of something I just broke” seems to be Kim’s latest trick.