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US Forces Korea (USFK)

The latest news and top stories on US Forces Korea. A prominent South Korea based military command, US Forces Korea (USFK) is dedicated to deterring aggression and defending the Republic of Korea, maintaining peace and stability on the Korean Peninsula. Its main areas of focus include coordinating US component commands, training forces and supporting the US-ROK alliance. Headquartered at Camp Humphreys, Pyeongtaek, USFK is a sub-unified command of US Indo-Pacific Command, recognised as a cornerstone of regional security.

US soldiers walk past military vehicles at a military training field in the border city of Yeoncheon, South Korea, in 2023. Photo: AFP

North Korea

Pentagon shifts North Korean responsibility to ‘capable’ South

US officials have recently been pushing to allow American troops in South Korea more flexibility to operate outside the peninsula.

24 Jan 2026 - 10:20AM

China-North Korea relations

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

8 Jan 2026 - 11:04AMvideocam

War and conflict

As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

12 Dec 2025 - 8:30PM

South Korea

South Korea’s nuclear sub deal signals shift from strategic ambiguity: analysts

While Seoul could expand its security roles, analysts warn the shift from strategic ambiguity could upset its US-China balancing act.

18 Nov 2025 - 4:21PMvideocam

Protesters shout slogans, demanding the US not help South Korea acquire nuclear-powered submarines, during a rally near the defence ministry in Seoul, South Korea, on November 4. Photo: AP

China-South Korea relations

Philippines looks to acquire South Korean anti-ship ballistic missile

Manila seeks to buy CTM-ASBM, which was unveiled by Hanwha at the Asian Defence and Security exhibition last year.

17 Oct 2025 - 3:38PMvideocam

US-China relations

South Korea’s new US ‘Iron Dome’ air defence system seen as reply to China

It’s the first such weapon system known to be deployed at an American base overseas and comes as Beijing and Pyongyang boost UAV operations.

29 Sep 2025 - 12:04PM

Taiwan

Seoul balks at Taiwan role for US troops stationed in South Korea

‘Discussions necessary’: Lee Jae-myung says it is difficult to agree to strategic flexibility as Trump looks to shift USFK focus to China.

27 Aug 2025 - 7:18PMvideocam

South Korea

Trump tests South Korea’s Lee by demanding ownership of US military base land

The lack of a joint statement after Lee’s summit with Trump highlights unresolved issues between the two allies, analysts say.

26 Aug 2025 - 3:33PMvideocam

Korean peninsula

Opinion | Why military independence from US could be Seoul’s best chance for peace

South Korea must secure US cooperation while navigating North Korea’s strengthened position and managing fears over regional security implications.

22 Aug 2025 - 5:30AMvideocam

South Korea

As Lee meets Trump, what can a ‘turtle ship’ do for the US-South Korea alliance?

Seoul’s shipbuilding expertise is expected to be a key bargaining chip when the two presidents meet on Monday.

21 Aug 2025 - 6:40PM

South Korea

South Korea, US kick off huge annual military drills with 21,000 troops

The drills could trigger a response from North Korea, which has used previous exercises as a pretext for weapons tests.

18 Aug 2025 - 12:36PM

Activists protest against the Ulchi Freedom Shield drills in Seoul on Monday. Photo: AP

South Korea

‘Modernise’ or pay up: US pressures South Korea to redefine alliance

A top US commander’s comments on ‘strategic flexibility’ show Washington wants Seoul to help counter China and Russia, analysts say.

13 Aug 2025 - 10:27PMvideocam

South Korea

‘We will not talk about it’: US, South Korea to shun Taiwan issue at summit

The session between both leaders is set to yield only a broad agreement to elevate the bilateral alliance into a ‘comprehensive strategic alliance’.

7 Aug 2025 - 1:25PMvideocam

South Korea

‘Shrimp among whales’: South Korea faces stark choices amid US-China rivalry

South Korea is coming under intense US pressure to pick a side, even as its new president would prefer to equivocate.

3 Aug 2025 - 8:02AMvideocam

South Korea

US officer urges closer South Korea-Japan defence ties amid North threat

Visit by General Dan Caine, top US military officer, comes amid growing calls in Washington for South Korea to shoulder more defence costs.

13 Jul 2025 - 8:10AMvideocam

(From left) US Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine, Admiral Kim Myung-soo, chairman of South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff, and General Yoshihide Yoshida, Chief of Staff, Joint Staff of Japan’s Self-Defence Forces, during the Trilateral Chiefs of Defence meeting in Seoul on Friday. Photo: Pool/AFP

US Forces Korea (USFK)

Pentagon shifts North Korean responsibility to ‘capable’ South

US officials have recently been pushing to allow American troops in South Korea more flexibility to operate outside the peninsula.

China’s role in Korean peninsula stability tested amid nuclear submarine moves

.css-1m2rp1p{color:#34b8b5;}As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?

South Korea’s nuclear sub deal signals shift from strategic ambiguity: analysts

While Seoul could expand its security roles, analysts warn the shift from strategic ambiguity could upset its US-China balancing act.

Philippines looks to acquire South Korean anti-ship ballistic missile

Manila seeks to buy CTM-ASBM, which was unveiled by Hanwha at the Asian Defence and Security exhibition last year.

South Korea’s new US ‘Iron Dome’ air defence system seen as reply to China

It’s the first such weapon system known to be deployed at an American base overseas and comes as Beijing and Pyongyang boost UAV operations.

Seoul balks at Taiwan role for US troops stationed in South Korea

‘Discussions necessary’: Lee Jae-myung says it is difficult to agree to strategic flexibility as Trump looks to shift USFK focus to China.

Trump tests South Korea’s Lee by demanding ownership of US military base land

The lack of a joint statement after Lee’s summit with Trump highlights unresolved issues between the two allies, analysts say.

Opinion | Why military independence from US could be Seoul’s best chance for peace

South Korea must secure US cooperation while navigating North Korea’s strengthened position and managing fears over regional security implications.

As Lee meets Trump, what can a ‘turtle ship’ do for the US-South Korea alliance?

Seoul’s shipbuilding expertise is expected to be a key bargaining chip when the two presidents meet on Monday.

South Korea, US kick off huge annual military drills with 21,000 troops

The drills could trigger a response from North Korea, which has used previous exercises as a pretext for weapons tests.

‘Modernise’ or pay up: US pressures South Korea to redefine alliance

A top US commander’s comments on ‘strategic flexibility’ show Washington wants Seoul to help counter China and Russia, analysts say.

‘We will not talk about it’: US, South Korea to shun Taiwan issue at summit

The session between both leaders is set to yield only a broad agreement to elevate the bilateral alliance into a ‘comprehensive strategic alliance’.

‘Shrimp among whales’: South Korea faces stark choices amid US-China rivalry

South Korea is coming under intense US pressure to pick a side, even as its new president would prefer to equivocate.

US officer urges closer South Korea-Japan defence ties amid North threat

Visit by General Dan Caine, top US military officer, comes amid growing calls in Washington for South Korea to shoulder more defence costs.

As I see it | Would the world be safer if the military were in charge of the US?