Washington has reiterated its commitment to maintaining its deterrent capability on the Korean peninsula and its strong alliance with Seoul.
State Department deputy spokesman Adam Ereli said in a news briefing Tuesday that the United States views South Korea as a strong and steadfast ally, one with whom it has shared a long history of struggle and sacrifice and cooperation.
He stressed that the U.S. has been consulting with friends and allies about its global force posture, about where its troops and defense assets are, and where they should be in the future in order to respond to global threats.
Ereli said no final decisions have been made as a result of these consultations.
On Sunday, the U.S. informed Seoul of its plan to withdraw 12,500 of its troops from South Korea by the end of 2005 in line with its Global Defense Posture Review program.