US cedes control of South Korea army

[T_i_B]

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/asia-pacific/6391799.stm

The US and South Korea have reached a deal to hand full control of South Korea's military back to Seoul by 2012.

The agreement ends a 50-year pact that gave the US wartime command of South Korea's army, dating to the Korean War.

Under pressure in Iraq, the US had wanted to hand over in 2009. But South Korea pushed for a slower transition.

The US currently has 29,500 troops on the Korean peninsula and Seoul's military numbers 680,000. North Korea has more than one million troops.

[Up2Late]

1. Here's the story from AFP too: South Korea welcomes US military handover agreement

(See all you other countries of the world, that's all it takes. If you too become an Economic Superpower, we might consider removing our occupying Army from your country too.)

South Korea welcomes US military handover agreement

24/02/2007 09h24

SEOUL (AFP) - South Korea on Saturday welcomed an agreement struck with Washington to hand Seoul wartime operational control over its own forces for the first time in more than 50 years.

Defence (sic) heads of the two countries agreed to return wartime control to South Korea in 2012, ending command arrangements that date back to the Korean War.

"The agreement will serve as a key launching pad for a take-off in the South Korea-US alliance, praised as the most successful bond in the past 50 years," the presidential Blue House said in a statement.

The United States, stretched by engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan, had hoped to effect the command transition as early as 2009, but ultimately agreed to South Korea's insistence that responsibilities be shifted at a slower pace.

After the transition on April 17, 2012, the South Korean military will have full operational control during times of peace and war. US forces in Korea will move to a supporting role.

(more at link) <http://www.afp.com/english/news/stories/070224092110.pps536ia.html>

[Lasher]

2. What's the hurry? We haven't even had troops there 5 decades yet.

One reason South Korea wants us to keep our soldiers there is that we pump money into their economy. One reason I want our troops out of there is that it pumps money out of our economy.

[rodeodance]

3. maybe if SK returned the favor (50 yrs)--they could send at least 100,000

of their troops to Iraq??????

[ohio2007]

4. Pushed back from 2009 to 2012 ? then pushed back again. nt

[BayCityProgressive]

5. PLease

we will never give them their country back. They would probably unify with the North if we left and DC would NEVER allow that.

[WorldResident]

6. What basis do you have for that claim?

n/t

[BayCityProgressive]

7. A majority on both sides

want reunification. The south would probably take on massive debt to see their families again..just as Germany did.