U.S. Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta has stressed that the U.S. plans to maintain a significant number of ground troops on the Korean Peninsula despite its plans to downsize its defense budget and Army troops.

Panetta made the remark during a briefing on fiscal 2013 defense budget priorities on Thursday. He said the U.S. will keep a significant number of ground troops in South Korea and in countries in the Middle East.

The defense chief said though the U.S. military force will become smaller with the end of the war in Iraq and due to U.S. financial troubles, the U.S. will operate its military to be agile, flexible and technologically advanced.

Panetta said the Army will maintain its force in the Asia Pacific region, including the Korean Peninsula, and will maintain its readiness to counter any contingencies that might erupt in the Middle East.