U.S. Defense Secretary Donald Rumsfeld says that the defense capability of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea will remain intact even if Washington reduces its troops in South Korea.

Rumsfeld made the remarks in a news briefing at the Pentagon Thursday together with General Richard Myers, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff.

His remarks come in the wake of a report that Washington has drafted plans to withdraw 15-thousand of its troops out of some 100-thousand in Asia as part of an extensive realignment of American military forces overseas.

Thursday's Washington Post quoted top U.S. officials as saying that under the plan, which is nearing approval, most of the troop reductions would be among administrative staffs of U.S. military commands in South Korea and Japan.

Asked specifically what the Pentagon is thinking about regarding reductions in South Korea and Germany, Rumsfeld declined to answer. He only replied that Washington is studying where to pare down the American troop presence and that any speculation in the press is only speculation.