Foreign Minister Ban Ki-moon has publicly denied the possibility of South Korean troops assuming peacekeeping operations in Northeast Asia.

Ban's comments came two days after Lt. Gen. Charles C. Campbell, commander of the Eighth US Army in South Korea, told reporters earlier on Tuesday that in the 21st century, the range of operations of South Korea-U.S. allied forces could be expanded to cover the Northeast Asian region. Campbell also said allied forces could carry out humanitarian support and peacekeeping operations within the Northeast Asian region.

Upon returning home from his Russian trip, Ban told reporters Thursday that Seoul and Washington had discussed the role of U.S. forces in South Korea for the past two years. However, Ban was quick to add that no discussions had ever been carried out with the U.S. on an expanded role for South Korean troops in Northeast Asia and that such discussions would likely not take place in the future.

Ban also said the realignment of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea under the U.S. Global Defense Posture Review program could be discussed at next month's Future of the Alliance Policy Initiative talks.

Ban said that early discussions on the matter may be held when Presidential National Security Advisor Kwon Jin-ho visits Washington on Tuesday.