US House approves annual defense policy bill restricting USFK troop reduction

The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed an annual defense policy bill that includes a measure to restrict the government from unilaterally reducing the current troop level of the 28,500-strong U.S. Forces Korea (USFK). The lower chamber approved the National Defense Authorization Act for the next fiscal year — from October this year to September next year — in a 312-112 vote, sending it to the Senate where the bill is expected to get bipartisan support. The bill will become law after President Donald Trump signs it following the Senate approval. The bill says that amounts authorized under the act may not be obligated or expended to reduce U.S. troops in Korea, though it leaves open the door for the use of the funds following the certification that the USFK troop reduction is in the U.S. national security interest, and that the action is being undertaken only after appropriate consultations with allies, including Korea. Also without such a certification, funds allocated under the act may not be expended to complete the transition of wartime operational control from the UWeiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times Weiter zum vollständigen Artikel bei Korea Times