By Via a reader’s tip comes news that the South Korean government is building barracks to house US servicemembers on an island in the Yellow Sea near the border with North Korea:
South Korea plans to build accommodations for U.S. servicemembers on one of the Yellow Sea islands near the disputed maritime border it shares with North Korea, but officials from both countries insist there are no plans to permanently station Americans there.
“The Republic of Korea is building a transient barracks for the (South Korean) Marine Corps on (Baengnyeong) Island for use during training or in a crisis,” U.S. Forces Korea spokesman Jason Chudy said Monday. “It could also be used as temporary billeting for any U.S. forces training with our (South Korean) counterparts on the island, which increases our readiness and strengthens our alliance.
“There is no plan for the permanent stationing of U.S. forces on the Northwest Islands,” he said. [Stars & Stripes]
As I have said before it is actually smart of the South Korean government to rotate US troops on the islands because it is one thing for the North Koreans to kill ROK Army soldiers, but they would definitely think twice before killing US troops before launching another attack against one of these islands. Could you imagine the public pressure on President Obama to respond militarily against North Korea if they launched an attack that killed US troops?
She hasn’t seen...
9:50 am on November 14th, 2011 1
I’d be curious to see what sort of infrastructure or “Ville” springs up around this installation and how long the rotational duty there would be? Is this a throw back to the old mission of 2nd I.D. when we were located in various remote camps up close to the DMZ?
9:52 am on November 14th, 2011 2
I should have used the term “Western Corridor” in my post above.
11:42 am on November 14th, 2011 3
Some Koreans see this as shameful, as a proof that SK isn’t capable of defending even a small island chain from NK. I see no shame in the move at all. You bring all your tools at your disposal when you are in a war, and considering how unstable NK is, this is a prudent move. Just having the barracks that can be ‘potentially’ used by US troops will stop NK from attacking the US. That’s how fearful NK is of US. Seriously, just rotating a platoon of US soldiers there for a total of 1 week per year will be good enough imo.
12:23 pm on November 14th, 2011 4
If this isn’t a sterling example of how South Korea considers US Forces Korea as nothing more than hostages I don’t what it is. Tripwires indeed…
12:35 pm on November 14th, 2011 5
#4
As someone said, US and Russian made the bed together, so they should get into it together also. I don’t agree with it completely but some truth in it.
The idea of Tripwire was thought up by US no? AFAIK, SK govt was opposed to drawdown of USFK but US insisted on it.
As for your use of hostage term, Korean would LOVE to NOT to be a pawn in the international politics but they have no control over it and suffered the consequences. And looks like US (and China and Japan and others) is stuck with dealing with NK.
#3
I forgot to add that SK is capable of defending the island. They may even lose it but they will ultimately get it back, albeit high cost. But as you know winning without fighting is the best type of victory. And hence SK is aiming for that type of victory.
10:19 pm on November 14th, 2011 6
@4,5
“Tripwire” hasn’t existed in over a decade. It was never a policy just the likely result of lowered US ground force in SK vs an increased NK ground force. All the combat multipliers in the world can only do so much vs sheer force size. (Can breeding be considered a combat multiplier?)
US forces in SK are no longer here to fight a war, there won’t be US soldiers charging and taking hills. The SK Army does this now, US only provides C2 / logistics and intelligence support to the SK military. We also provide aerial and naval defense (we won’t cross into NK territory), the SK Air force / Navy are the only ones that can conduct offensive operations. It’s all part of the strategy to keep China out of the war, if we go into NK then they’ll enter into NK to support their allies and we got the Korean war all over again (China vs USA).
The island idea is a pretty good one, but has nothing to do with public reaction in the USA (NK couldn’t care less). If NK kills SK troops then the international world considers it a domestic thing. If NK targets and kills US forces then their trying to start a war. China will not allow this to happen, their making too much money off the USA and the western world to risk NK starting a war by attacking US forces. By putting forces that close to NK it prevents them from conducting shenanigans in that area, they don’t want to piss off China, who happens to fund their military (with money made from the USA).
10:23 pm on November 14th, 2011 7
Well said SOMEOTHERGUY.
11:45 pm on November 14th, 2011 8
9:48 am on November 15th, 2011 9
Even Tomas agrees with you, Homie.
11:14 am on November 15th, 2011 10
#6
Actually, I agree with you. Putting the US troops on the island (however note US troops may be stationed only very briefly ) is a good move imo.
Btw, I didn’t say anything about NK worrying about public reaction in US. Either way, even the potential of stationing US troops very very temporarily on the island will stop NK from causing trouble around the island.
Like I said, winning without actually fighting is the best type of victory and that’s what SK is aiming for.
8:57 pm on November 15th, 2011 11
I don’t think that Obama would have to be goaded to do something about an attack on U.S. troops on the Korean peninsula. As the stepped-up drone program and the hit inside Pakistan on Osama bin Laden have shown, he isn’t shy about pulling the trigger, much to the chagrin of his peacenik base.
10:03 pm on November 15th, 2011 12
As I’ve said before, and to the absolute fury of the ultra conservatives, Obama is a moderate with a left lean not an extreme leftist. Dems don’t like him due to him not being liberal enough for them, and the GOP absolutely hates him cause hes not a Republican. Hmm a President that both parties don’t like, a good idea I think.
1:30 am on November 16th, 2011 13
The US isn’t in South Korea to protect South Koreans. They couldn’t care less about South Koreans. They are there to 1) keep China in check and 2) prevent communists from reaching lucrative Japan.
2:52 am on November 16th, 2011 14
Communists? Denny, you’re a comedian.
5:33 am on November 16th, 2011 15
OPSEC.