The commander of U.S. forces in South Korea, General Leon LaPorte, says that the U.S. military is not planning a preemptive strike against North Korea.

General LaPorte was replying to a question at a debate with netizens Thursday at the Yongsan Garrison.

He added that the reconfiguration of U.S. troops stationed in South Korea will be carried out based on bilateral agreement. The commander of 37-thousand U.S. troops in South Korea said U.S. forces will remain in the South as long as there is a threat from the North and unless the truce agreement between the two Koreas is replaced with a permanent peace regime.