The Eighth U.S. Army will remain here and continue its primary mission of deterring aggression on the Korean Peninsula even after the turnover of wartime operational control (OPCON) of South Korean troops from Washington to Seoul.
But it said Tuesday that it will continue transformation efforts aimed at increasing combat capability in line with the realignment of the U.S. military worldwide.
The future of the unit, the pillar of the U.S. Forces Korea (USFK), has drawn keen attention since the allies' agreement on the OPCON transition as of April 17, 2012.
"The Eighth Army will undergo changes to make it a more capable and relevant force here on the peninsula, while adhering to U.S. Army transformation criteria," Lt. Gen. David P. Valcourt, the Eighth Army commander, said in a press release.
The transformation of the unit will follow the guidelines for regional U.S. Army headquarters, with details to be consulted on with South Korea, according to the press release.