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January 06, 2009
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The United States has agreed to a South Korea-proposed timetable for relocating its military command here out of Seoul by 2014, but the sides remain split on when to complete the relocation of a frontline U.S. army base, officials here said yesterday. The U.S. proposed last year that the relocation of Yongsan Garrison to Pyeongtaek, about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of Seoul, be completed by 2016, citing pressure in costs. The U.S. recently withdrew the proposal when its top commander here met with South Korea’s defense minister in Seoul, South Korean officials said on condition of anonymity. But the officials added the two sides have yet to finalize the year for the relocation of a major U.S. infantry division near the border with North Korea to Pyeongtaek. The U.S. Forces Korea declined a request for confirmation, but one official said costs could be a factor in U.S. difficulties in moving the Second Infantry Division to Pyeongtaek by 2014. The relocation is part of a wider U.S. realignment project aimed at streamlining American troops abroad, and it comes as South Korea is pushing to shoulder greater responsibilities for frontline defense by reclaiming wartime operational control of its troops. About 28,500 U.S. troops are stationed here as a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War that ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. The U.S. has retained wartime command since the conflict, and plans to return it by 2012. The U.S. had already delayed the target years for the two major relocations in July. The USFK sought a further delay late last year, estimating the expansion of its Pyeongtaek base to accommodate the relocation by 2015 would require $600 million annually, twice the budget it could procure. South Korea balked, saying the delay would drastically raise its share of the costs due to annual commodity price hikes. Seoul’s Defense Ministry estimates the total relocation costs would increase by nearly 50 percent, with Seoul shouldering over 5 trillion won ($3.8 billion) because of the initial delay allowed to the U.S. Yonhap |
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