By Na Jeong-ju
Staff Reporter
South Korea and the United States may conclude bilateral talks by October regarding the possible overseas redeployment of American troops stationed here, sources said Sunday.
The two sides are seeking to finalize negotiations before they hold their annual defense ministerial talks, the Security Consultative Meeting, slated for October.
``Talks are currently underway between Seoul and Washington to narrow differences over the details and procedures regarding the strategic flexibility of U.S. Forces Korea (USFK),'' a source said.
South Korea had opposed the flexibility of the USFK as it believed the move may lead to a reduction of American forces stationed here.
The United States currently maintains some 28,500 service members in Korea under the Korea-U.S. alliance to deter any hostility from communist North Korea
The USFK said earlier this month that a redeployment of its troops, if necessary, would only be possible in the later part of the decade after close consultations with the South Korean military.
Yonhap News said the strategic flexibility of U.S. troops will not affect the number of soldiers stationed here, quoting unnamed sources.
``The countries are holding the talks under the condition that the number of U.S. forces here will be maintained at 28,500 at all times,'' the agency said, adding the U.S. hopes to exercise such flexibility of its troops here from 2016.
Washington reportedly wants to achieve strategic flexibility of its forces from 2015 when the relocation of its troops is completed.
The relocation of the troops, however, will likely be pushed back a year due to a delay in the construction of a newly expanded U.S. base in Pyeongtaek, 70 kilometers south of Seoul, Yonhap said.
jj@koreatimes.co.kr
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