The United States, in an attempt to realign its military forces abroad, is planning to relocate its troops in South Korea. However, talks between the two countries do not appear to be going smoothly. A recent meeting in Seoul between U.S. Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld and South Korean Defense Minister Cho Young Kil produced no conclusive agreement.
With military technology making spectacular advances, U.S. military planners reportedly envision a sweeping troop reorganization that would create a global network of crack units capable of quick deployment. As a step in this direction, Mr. Rumsfeld has unveiled a plan for regrouping 37,000 U.S. troops in South Korea. The troop structure in Japan is also set to come up for review.
Meanwhile, the security situation in Northeast Asia remains unstable. North Korea, while leaving the door open for dialogue, is continuing to develop nuclear weapons and ballistic missiles. Relations between China and Taiwan are potentially unsettling, as Beijing warns darkly against any movement toward independence.