U.S. commanders warn pulling troops from S. Korea would embolden Kim, empower China

As the Trump administration reconsiders its military footprint abroad, U.S. commanders are warning that cutting troops in South Korea could raise the risk of a North Korean invasion and expand China's influence.

Our Kim Jung-sil reports.

At a U.S. Senate Armed Services Committee hearing on Thursday, Admiral Samuel Paparo, head of the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command, warned that cutting American troops in South Korea would heighten the risk of a North Korean invasion.

He explained that the absence of U.S. forces on the Korean Peninsula would raise the probability of Kim Jong-un taking military action.

Paparo added that a reduction in troop numbers would inherently weaken America's ability to respond to conflict on the peninsula — and increase the risk of Chinese involvement.

General Xavier Brunson, commander of U.S. Forces Korea, echoed those concerns — calling a reduction in troop presence "problematic."

He stressed that American forces not only deter the North, but also play a vital role in checking Russian and Chinese influence in the region.

Brunson also pointed to the historical weight of the mission, reminding lawmakers that U.S. troops have helped preserve peace and stability in the region for more than 75 years.

While no formal policy shift has been announced, the Pentagon's top commanders made it clear that a troop withdrawal from the Korean Peninsula would carry serious consequences.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.