Pentagon Shifts Primary Responsibility for North Korean Deterrence to Seoul

This policy change, part of a broader "America First" strategic realignment, could lead to a reduction in the approximately 28,500 U.S. troops currently stationed in the South. The Pentagon's report suggests that South Korea's robust military and advanced defense industry now make it capable of taking the lead, with American support acting as a critical but secondary reinforcement.

South Korea currently maintains a regular force of roughly 450,000 soldiers and recently increased its defense budget by 7.5 percent to bolster its independent capabilities. While Seoul has shown some hesitation regarding the potential withdrawal of U.S. forces, it has spent two decades preparing to take over wartime operational control of its own troops.

Strategic analysts believe this move is designed to make U.S. forces more flexible, allowing them to better address regional challenges beyond the Korean Peninsula, such as China’s growing influence. Elbridge Colby, a top Pentagon official, is expected to visit Seoul next week to discuss the modernization of the alliance and future defense spending.