Security Relations

U.S., South Korea Agree on U.S. Troop Relocation

23 July 2004

U.S. forces to be moved south of Seoul

During talks in Washington, U.S. and South Korean defense officials concluded agreements to relocate some 8,000 U.S. service members from the Seoul metropolitan area to the Pyongtaek area, the U.S. Department of Defense announced July 23.

The agreement fulfills a commitment made by President Bush and President Roh of the Republic of Korea (ROK) at their summit meeting in Washington in May 2003.

The relocation is scheduled to be completed by December 2008.

U.S. and ROK representatives also completed plans for the eventual relocation of 2nd Infantry Division from its existing camps north of Seoul to "enduring facilities" in the Pyongtaek area, approximately 50 miles south of Seoul. Not date has been set for that move.

Following is the text of the press release:

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No. 706-04
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Jul 23, 2004
Media Contact: (703)697-5131
Public/Industry Contact: (703)428-0711

Agreement Reached on Moving U.S. Forces in Korea

The Department of Defense announced today that representatives of the Republic of Korea and the United States finalized agreements to relocate all U.S. Forces from the Seoul Metropolitan Area to the Pyongtaek area.

The decision was reached during the 10th round of the Future of the Alliance talks held in Washington D.C. this week. The agreement fulfills a commitment made by President Bush and President Roh at their summit meeting in Washington in May 2003.

There are approximately 8,000 U.S. service members in the Seoul Metropolitan Area.

The relocation of U.S. forces out of Seoul will be completed by December 2008.

U.S. and ROK representatives also finalized amendments to the Land Partnership Plan that allow for the eventual relocation of 2nd Infantry Division from its existing camps north of Seoul to enduring facilities in the Pyongtaek area, approximately 50 miles south of Seoul. A final decision on the timing of the 2nd Infantry Division relocation will be decided by the respective national leaders at a later date, taking careful account of the political, economic and security situation on the peninsula and in Northeast Asia.

"This relocation agreement helps us meet our enduring commitment to the defense of Korea and to the security and stability of the region," said Richard Lawless, the U.S. deputy under secretary of defense for Asia Pacific affairs.

The delegations were led by Lawless, from the U.S. Department of Defense, Evans Revere, from the U.S. Department of State, Ahn Kwang Chan, from the ROK Ministry of National Defense, and Kim Sook, from the ROK Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade.