South Korean Defense Ministry Says There Are No Talks Of Withdrawing US Troops

United States Air Base in Kunsan, South Korea. (Wikimedia Commons/US Air Force)

JAKARTA - South Korea's Ministry of Defense (South Korea) said on Friday Seoul and Washington did not discuss the withdrawal of a number of US troops stationed in the country.

The ministry made the comments in response to a Wall Street Journal report saying the US was considering withdrawing some 4,500 troops from South Korea.

One of the options considered is to relocate a number of troops to other locations in the Indo-Pacific region including Guam, according to the report, citing unnamed US military officials.

There are currently 28,500 US troops stationed in South Korea (USFK), quoted from Reuters on May 23.

South Korea will continue to work closely with the United States to maintain a strong joint defense posture to deter North Korea, South Korea's Defense Ministry said in a statement.

Seoul and Washington have agreed on a five-year plan on the division of defense costs last year. However, US President Donald Trump has signaled the cost of US military presence could be discussed in ongoing trade negotiations with Seoul.

South Korean officials have so far maintained their position, the cost of defense is a separate matter from trade talks.

It is known that Ginseng Country will hold an impromptu presidential election on June 3 to elect a new leader, after months of political turmoil that has left a power vacuum, as South Korea seeks to negotiate to remove US rates over its export-dependent economy.