Reference Message Network reported on April 5 according to a report from Yonhap News Agency on April 4. A source said that South Korea and the United States recently agreed on a plan to temporarily deploy the "Patriot" missile defense system from South Korea to the Middle East. Currently, there are speculations about the possible change in the role of US troops stationed in South Korea.

The source said that last month, South Korea and the United States reached an agreement on the "continuous deployment for several months" of some Patriot-3 missiles, which is the first known case of assets of US troops stationed in South Korea being transferred to the Middle East.

The source said that these missiles have formed a multi-layered missile defense system together with South Korea's own air defense assets to cope with the missile and nuclear threats from North Korea.

Before this rare move by US troops stationed in South Korea, NBC News reported last week that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth authorized the transfer of at least two sets of "Patriot" missile defense systems from Asia to the Middle East. The United States is currently taking military action against the Houthi organization in Yemen.

However, at the same time, more and more South Koreans are worried that given President Trump's "transactional" attitude towards allies, Washington may ask South Korea to bear more costs related to US troops stationed in South Korea or reconsider the role of US troops stationed in South Korea.

When asked about the recent deployment issue, the US troops stationed in South Korea did not disclose more details due to internal policies, only reiterating that their commitment to the Korean Peninsula has not changed.

"As part of the rotation deployment, the US troops stationed in South Korea will temporarily deploy some personnel and equipment from South Korea," the US troops stationed in South Korea said in a statement. "The US troops stationed in South Korea will still maintain a military force that is ready, capable, and lethal on the Korean Peninsula, ready to respond to any contingency." (Compiled/Clifford)

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