17 May 2004
White House Report, May 17: U.S. May Redeploy Troops from Korea to Iraq
Plan has "understanding and support" of South Korea, Japan
President Bush has spoken with Republic of Korea President Roh Moo-hyun "to consult with him about the possibility of moving a (U.S.) brigade from South Korea to Iraq," White House Press Secretary Scott McClellan told reporters May 17.
During a briefing for reporters on Air Force One as they accompanied President Bush to events in Topeka, Kansas, McClellan said Roh's response was one of "understanding and support."
McClellan said Bush also spoke the same day with Japan's Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi. In that phone call, Bush "discussed the possibility of a brigade redeployment in the same context he discussed with President Roh," McClellan said. "Prime Minister Koizumi expressed his support and understanding, as well."
"I do want to make clear that any possible redeployment of a brigade from South Korea does not in any way diminish our commitment to South Korea and the region," McClellan said. "Remember," he added, "we've been talking about the global posture review for some time, we've been involved in extensive consultation with our allies on this, including South Korea, and ... anything would be part of this realignment that we've talked about, as part of our global posture review."
Prime Minister Koizumi made it clear that his upcoming trip to Pyongyang does not affect Japan's firm support for the "complete, verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of North Korea's nuclear program" and he indicated that he would reiterate that to North Korea, McClellan said.
(Distributed by the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)
|
NEWSLETTER
|
| Join the GlobalSecurity.org mailing list |
|
|
|
