Korean media reports say that as the U.S. "epic wrath" operation against Iran may exceed the "four to five weeks" period mentioned by Trump, the United States is assessing the adjustment of air defense and surveillance assets of the U.S. military stationed in South Korea toward the Middle East, including the "Patriot" and "Thaad" missile defense systems, as well as the MQ-9 "Reaper" drones stationed at Gunsan Air Base since last year. The report recalls that before the operation to strike Iranian nuclear facilities last June, the U.S. military had rotated three out of eight "Patriot" systems stationed in South Korea to the Middle East, and withdrew them in October of the same year. Several South Korean experts are concerned that if the air defense systems stationed in South Korea are again transferred, the country's air defense security margin in the face of North Korean ballistic missile threats will be compressed. The report also cites a source from the Blue House, saying that the operational use of U.S. forces stationed in South Korea has always required consultation between the U.S. and South Korea, and the South Korean side is collecting opinions to avoid damage to the joint defense situation. The U.S. military stationed in South Korea directed media inquiries to the U.S. Department of Defense. The South Korean Ministry of Defense said that on the 2nd, the South Korean Defense Minister Ahn Kyung-wook had a call with the U.S. Deputy Secretary of Defense for Policy, Kopp, to hear the U.S. position on the operation against Iran, and reaffirmed the stability of the U.S.-South Korea alliance in the face of rapidly changing international security environments.
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Original: toutiao.com/article/1858623842228235/
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