Top U.S. Military Leaders Warn Against Troop Withdrawal from South Korea

4 days ago

1 min read

News Summary

Top U.S. military leaders in the Indo-Pacific warned that reducing American troops in South Korea would increase the risk of a North Korean invasion and weaken the U.S.'s ability to prevail in conflict.

During a Senate Armed Services Committee hearing, U.S. Indo-Pacific Command Commander Adm. Samuel Paparo Jr. and U.S. Forces Korea Commander Gen. Xavier Brunson both emphasized that the U.S. presence is essential not only for deterring North Korea but also for countering China and Russia in the region.

Their remarks came amid ongoing concerns that the Trump administration may revisit plans to reduce overseas deployments.

Commentary

The warnings from Adm. Paparo and Gen. Brunson could not be more timely or significant. As geopolitical dynamics shift rapidly in Northeast Asia—with rising military coordination between North Korea, China, and Russia—the presence of U.S. forces in South Korea remains one of the most critical pillars of regional stability.

Adm. Paparo’s words should be taken seriously: "[Kim Jong Un]’s intentions could shift with the wind and he’s built a military that is designed to impose tremendous costs directly on South Korea."

North Korea’s unpredictability, combined with its growing missile arsenal and deepening ties with authoritarian allies, makes the deterrent value of U.S. forces more essential than ever.

History also offers a sobering lesson. In 1950, the U.S. excluded South Korea from its defense perimeter through the so-called Acheson Line—an omission that preceded the outbreak of the Korean War. We cannot afford to repeat that mistake.