Panetta open to discussions on USFK realignment

By Lee Chi-dong WASHINGTON, June 9 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Barack Obama's defense chief-designate said Thursday that he will work closely with Congress in pressing ahead with the realignment of troops stationed in South Korea, hinting at the possibility of rethinking the timing and scale of the shift amid growing state debt concerns. Speaking at his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee, nominee Leon Panetta, director of the CIA, agreed that Korea and other East Asian nations are strategically important. "We do have to maintain a presence there, but there are a lot of issues to be resolved and worked on," he said, responding to a question from committee chairman Sen. Carl Levin (D-MI). Levin took particular issue with the Pentagon's ongoing drive to relocate bases in South Korea, Japan and Guam as part of efforts to enhance the so-called strategic flexibility of its troops worldwide. Along with Sen. John McCain (R-AZ) and Jim Webb (D-VA), Levin has proposed that the Department of Defense put the realignment of U.S. military forces in South Korea on hold for further review. The U.S. has about 28,000 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War. U.S. Forces Korea (USFK) has been moving troops in Seoul and nearby areas to a base about 70 kilometers south of the capital. The work, scheduled to be finished by 2016, is estimated to cost US$15 billion. USFK also plans to increase the number of family members accompanying military personnel. Levin called for a review of the plans in South Korea, Okinawa and Guam, arguing that they are "unrealistic, unworkable, and unaffordable." When asked whether he would be willing to review this matter and to work with the senators, the nominee replied, "Yes, I will." "I look forward to working with you, Senator McCain, Senator Webb and others to try to determine what the best and most cost-effective approach would be," he added. No specific questions were raised during the morning session of the hearing.