Senior Seoul official notes possibility of USFK role change due to 'various factors'

A senior South Korean official made a rare mention Thursday of a possible change in the role of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), amid speculation that U.S. President Donald Trump's administration may seek to shift the focus of its mission to deterring China rather than countering North Korean threats. The official made the remarks in a meeting with South Korean correspondents in Washington as the Trump administration is seeking to "modernize" the South Korea-U.S. alliance to make it "strategically sustainable" in the midst of an intensifying Sino-U.S. rivalry. "I think there can be a change in the role and character of the USFK due to various factors," he said. The official pointed to the evolving international security environment, technological shifts and a "growing strategic role" of China, as he enumerated the factors that could drive a possible shift in the role of the 28,500-strong USFK. However, he cautioned against misconstruing his remarks, saying his talk of a possible change in the USFK role does not mean he concurs on the U.S. view in support of the change. "Allies cannot see eyeWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times