Obama Reaffirms Commitment to South Korea
By Lee Tae-hoon
Staff Reporter
The U.S. commitment to peace and stability in South Korea will not be compromised, U.S. President Barack Obama said before his departure for Washington, Thursday.
``America's commitment to the Republic of Korea will never waver,'' Obama told a group of U.S. airmen and women at Osan Air base in Gyeonggi Province.
Some 28,500 American troops are stationed in South Korea as a deterrent against North Korea aggression, a legacy of the 1950-1953 Korean War, which ended in an armistice not a peace treaty.
Obama also told the personnel that he won't risk their lives unless it was absolutely necessary, but would not hesitate to use force to defend the U.S.
It was the third time Obama has addressed U.S. troops since beginning deliberations over how many more will be sent to take part in the Afghan war.
The airbase was the final stop on Obama's eight-day Asia tour. He flew back to Washington after the speech, wrapping up a trip that also took him to Japan, Singapore and China.