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South Korean President Lee Jae Myung said Tuesday that Seoul cannot prevent the United States from redeploying some of its weapons from the country, but stressed that such a move would not weaken deterrence against North Korea.
Lee made the remarks during a Cabinet meeting amid reports that U.S. forces in Korea could be moving air defense systems.
Local media reports suggested U.S. forces were relocating Patriot missile systems to the U.S. Osan Air Base near Pyeongtaek for possible transfer to the Middle East.
Lee said the government had voiced opposition to the potential redeployment.
“It appears that there is a controversy recently over U.S. Forces in Korea shipping some batteries or air defense weapons out of the country,” Lee said.
“We are voicing our opposition to the USFK shipping some of its air defense weapons according to their military needs as the situation unfolds, but it is also a clear reality that we cannot fully carry through our opinion,” he added.
When asked about the reports, U.S. Forces Korea said it does not comment on the movement or relocation of specific military assets.
USFK said the United States “remains firmly committed” to South Korea’s defense.
South Korea’s defense ministry also declined to comment on the issue.
“It is not appropriate for our government to comment on force employment of the USFK,” the ministry said.
South Korea hosts the United States military’s largest overseas base.
Camp Humphreys houses Patriot missile batteries and a Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system.
These systems play a key role in defending against potential missile attacks from North Korea.
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