It Makes a Difference to the Sheep

ROK DEMONSTRATORS MAY GET WHAT THEY WANT:

The LA Times (Sonni Efron and Mark Magnier, "RUMSFELD MAY REDUCE FORCES IN SOUTH KOREA," Washington, 02/14/03) and the Washington Post (Bradley Graham, "US MAY SHIFT TROOPS IN KOREA," 02/14/03) reported that US Defense Secretary Donald H. Rumsfeld expressed support yesterday for shifting US forces in the ROK away from the fortified border between the ROK and DPRK and from the capital city, Seoul, adding that there might even be an overall reduction in the 37,000 US troops stationed on the peninsula. Disclosing that US military officials have been working privately for months on a potential repositioning of US troops in the ROK, Rumsfeld said
bilateral discussions on the subject would soon begin at the invitation of the ROK's President-elect Roh Moo-Hyun. His remarks to the Senate Armed Services Committee came against the backdrop of recent strains between the US and the ROK over how to deal with the DPRK's intensified pursuit of nuclear weapons.

Whatever happens, I think it is a good idea for the U.S. to move out of Yongsan and other high visibility military installations. Whether the total withdrawal of U.S. troops from the ROK is good for Korea and the region remains to be seen.