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Pentagon and USFK deny report of U.S. troop withdrawal from Korea

Published: 23 May. 2025, 21:13 Updated: 25 May. 2025, 16:51

Apache helicopters are tethered at Camp Humphreys, a U.S. military base in Paengseong-eup, Pyeongtaek, Gyeonggi, on May 23. [NEWS1]

The U.S. Department of Defense and United States Forces Korea (USFK) on Friday both denied a Wall Street Journal report claiming that the Trump administration was considering withdrawing about 4,500 troops from Korea.

Sean Parnell, the Pentagon’s chief spokesperson and senior adviser, told Yonhap News Agency in a statement that the report of a possible drawdown was “not true."

“Reports that the Department of Defense will reduce U.S. troops in the Republic of Korea [ROK] are not true,” Parnell said.

"The U.S. remains firmly committed to the defense of the ROK, and we look forward to working with the incoming government officials to maintain and strengthen our ironclad alliance,” he added.

The USFK echoed this position in a statement the same day.

The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday, citing U.S. defense officials, that the Trump administration is reviewing a plan to relocate about 4,500 troops currently stationed in Korea to other areas in the Indo-Pacific region, including Guam.

Korea’s Ministry of National Defense responded by saying there have been “no discussions whatsoever between the ROK and the United States regarding the withdrawal of U.S. forces from Korea.”

Approximately 28,500 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Korea.

Translated from the JoongAng Ilbo using generative AI and edited by Korea JoongAng Daily staff.
BY HYEON YE-SEUL [[email protected]]