United States Armed Forces in Korea - How Long?
Abstract
The background of American interest in Korea and Korea's current strategic position as the northern anchor of the containment policy is reviewed. The importance of political, economic, and military stability in Korea to American interests and objectives is established. It is concluded that an American armed force will be necessary to American objectives in Korea for the indefinite future. Because of the many world-wide commitments now facing the United States and the uncertain demands to come, it would be advisable to reduce, consistent with American interests, the size of the United States force in South Korea. It is further concluded that the American force in South Korea could be substantially reduced by limiting its mission to solely the providing of tactical nuclear supporting fires to the South Korean forces in the event they were required to contain an invasion from the north. The recommendation is made that United States forces be reduced to the minimum required to provide tactical nuclear supporting fires to the South Korean forces, that the forces released from duty in Korea be made available to the general purpose forces, and that the dollar savings be applied either to a reduction in the United States gold-flow or to constructive nation-building in Korea.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 08, 1966
- Accession Number
- ADA510126
Entities
People
- William Mulheron Jr.
Organizations
- United States Army War College