Security Relations

U.S. Defense Secretary Approves Moving Troops from Korea

19 May 2004

3600 U.S. soldiers to rotate to Iraq this summer

The Department of Defense announced May 18 that Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld has decided to move some 3,600 U.S. soldiers from South Korea to Iraq to support Operation Iraqi Freedom.

The 2nd Brigade of the 2nd Infantry Division, currently stationed in the Republic of Korea, will rotate to Iraq later this summer.

Following is the text of the news release:

(begin text)

NEWS RELEASE
From the United States Department of Defense
No. 477-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 18, 2004
Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

SECDEF Approves Iraq Deployment

The secretary of defense has announced the decision to deploy the 2nd Brigade, 2nd Infantry Division's approximately 3,600 service members in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The deployment is expected to start later this summer.

This decision supports the military requirement to meet operational commitments in Iraq. The Department of Defense will maintain its commitment to the defense of Korea and to the security and stability of the region.

These forces are part of the announced phased rotations being conducted this year into and out of the Central Command area of operations. The deployment will maintain the stabilized U.S. troop strength in Iraq at about 138,000.

The Department of Defense will continue to release information regarding the deployment of units in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom as they are identified.