Is U.S. Forces Korea Still Needed on the Korean Peninsula?

Abstract

The United States-Republic of Korea (ROK) alliance has successfully served as a deterrent against war on the Korean peninsula for over 50 years. Recently, however, many younger Koreans, as well as many Americans, are questioning the rationale for maintaining a U.S. military force in Korea. This research project analyzes the strategic defense objectives of the ROK and the United States to answer the following question: Is U.S. Forces Korea still needed on the Korean peninsula? In answering this question, the author considers the strategic implications of reducing or completely withdrawing the U.S. military presence from the peninsula, reviews steps being taken by the ROK to become more "self-reliant" with regard to self defense, assesses North Korean - South Korean relations, and considers ROK's possible role as a "power balancer" in the region.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Mar 15, 2006
Accession Number
ADA448328

Entities

People

  • Wayne Stevens

Organizations

  • United States Army War College

Tags

Communities of Interest

  • Biomedical
  • C4I
  • Energy and Power Technologies
  • Human Systems
  • Space

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Air Force
  • Air Power
  • Fighter Aircraft
  • Foreign Relations
  • Governments
  • International Relations
  • Military Science
  • National Security
  • North Korea
  • Nuclear Bombs
  • Nuclear Weapons
  • Personnel Management
  • Treaties
  • United States
  • War Colleges
  • Warfare
  • Weapons Of Mass Destruction

Readers

  • International Relations, focusing on Korea-Africa and North Korea-South Korea relations, and Nigeria-Latin American Relations.
  • Strategic Security Studies