Rumsfeld assures South Korea that US will maintain "healthy deterrent" on Korean peninsula

WASHINGTON, Oct 22 (AFP) - US Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld assured South Korea Friday that the United States will maintain a "healthy deterrent" in the Korean peninsula even as it shifts greater responsibility for its defense to its South Korean allies.
"We don't see anything changing terms of the role of US forces," Rumsfeld said at a press conference here with South Korean Defense Minister Yoon Kwang Ung at the end of two days of security talks.
"What will change is the relative responsibility between the United States and the Republic of Korea as the facts on the ground evolve," he said.
"And as the minister and his government has announced there is going to be a shift in some responsibilities as we adjust our relationship going forward," he said.
The United States is withdrawing a third of its 37,000 troops by the end of 2008, taking the US military presence on the peninsula to its lowest level since the 1950-1953 Korean war.
Washington initially proposed withdrawing the 12,500 troops from the peninsula next year, but agreed in negotiations leading up to the security talks to stretch out the withdrawal in response to South Korean concerns.
The US military has already deployed 3,600 US troops from South Korea to Iraq. Another 3,000 troops will follow next year, 2,000 more in 2006, 2,500 in 2007 and 2008.
The United States insists that the drop in the number of US troops will be more than compensated by increased US military capabilities.
In a joint communique, Rumsfeld reaffirmed a US pledge to invest 11 billion dollars in military upgrades in South Korea.
Officials have said the investments will include advanced Patriot air defense systems, Apache Longbow helicopter gunships and enhancements in communications, surveillance, intelligence and reconnaissance capabilities.
"Both (ministers) agreed that initiatives to enhance combined capabilities, transfer military missions and realign forces based in Korea, once fully implemented, will significantly strengthen the alliance while adapting it to changes in the global security environment," the communique said.
Rumsfeld said the United States and South Korea will continue to maintain a "close and cooperative alliance" as it has for 50 years.
"We are determined to see there is a healthy deterrent that dissuades anyone from thinking that they can disturb the peace on that peninsula," he said.

10/22/2004 20:26 GMT - AFP