Changing Dynamics in Northeast Asia: Implications for the U.S. Army
Abstract
For over a half century, the United States Army has provided a credible deterrent against communist aggression while being positioned near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in the Republic of Korea (ROK). Its aim has been to clearly demonstrate United States commitment and resolve against another North Korean invasion thereby enabling the defense of the ROK and providing stability throughout the Northeast Asia Region. The collapse of the Soviet Union and the economic marketization of China have left North Korea with less financial backing while China and Russia established diplomatic relations with Seoul. These factors have changed the overall dynamic on the Korean Peninsula. This new dynamic on the Korean Peninsula provides U.S. strategists with an opportunity to reassess the current U.S. Army posture in Korea. This study examines the current posture of the U.S. Army combat forces in Korea as a permanent base force in light of modernizing this force structure while taking advantage of the new dynamics in the region and Army transformation to effectively reduce the number of troops on the ground. A smaller more agile force would provide the U.S. Army greater regional flexibility enhance its effectiveness by modernizing its structure and remain viable as the operational reserve for the ROK-U.S. alliance for years to come.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 18, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA432300
Entities
People
- Scott W. Levin
Organizations
- United States Army War College