U.S. to Withdraw F-16 Squadron by Year's End

[Ryan Ruck]

U.S. to Withdraw F-16 Squadron by Year's End

The U.S. has notified the South Korean government it will withdraw one squadron of some 20 F-16 fighters by the end of this year. The fighter squadron is a key component of the U.S. Air Force Korea, whose withdrawal was not included in the original reduction plan to be completed by year's end.

At present, three squadrons of 60 F-16 fighters are deployed here. The squadron expected to be pulled out accounts for one-third of all F-16s stationed in Korea. This is the first time since the mid-1990s that the U.S. is withdrawing air force fighter jets rather than ground troops.

Military sources on Monday said the U.S. informally notified Korea of its plan to include one F-16 squadron in a program to reduce the U.S. Forces Korea by the end of this year. The notification came in recent bilateral military talks including a session of the Security Policy Initiative on April 8.

The U.S. reportedly explained that the F-16 squadron was included in the troop reduction plan later for reasons not considered when the two countries discussed the USFK reduction plan four years ago.

In 2004, Seoul and Washington agreed to gradually reduce USFK troops from about 37,500 to 25,000 by the end of this year. The number of the USFK troops decreased to about 28,500 by the end of 2007 and was set for additional cuts of 3,500 by year's end. The USFK's original plan envisaged cutting only about 1,000 U.S. Air Force troops, but not fighter jets.

The Defense Ministry is reportedly busy working out a response. They take the view that the abrupt notice of the withdrawal has something to do with the U.S.'s demand that Korea bear more upkeep cost for the USFK.

At a congressional hearing held in March, USFK Commander Gen. Burwell Bell said, "I think it would be prudent for the U.S. to agree to sit down and discuss the issue and then potentially execute a pause based on those discussions." Observers speculate that the U.S. moves are chiefly aimed at putting pressure on Korea to bear more defense costs.

[Brian Baldwin]

I really hope we end up replacing them with F-35's then. I'm not a huge fan of reducing troops in that region.