"Recently, there appears to be a controversy regarding the relocation of some assets, such as artillery batteries and air defense weapons, by US forces in South Korea," President Lee Jae-myung stated during a cabinet meeting on 10/3. He said South Korea has expressed objections but noted that the country is not in a position to make demands.

Foreign Minister Cho Hyun previously stated that Seoul and Washington are discussing the possibility of mobilizing some US Patriot air defense systems in South Korea for use in the Middle East conflict. According to the Chosun newspaper, Patriot batteries have been withdrawn from Osan Air Base and are likely to be deployed to US military facilities in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). However, South Korean officials have not confirmed this information.

In addition to Patriot, experts believe that the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) system and MQ-9 Reaper drones are also on the list of assets being redeployed by the US from South Korea to the Middle East.

The Middle East has been embroiled in conflict since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on 28/2. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) then retaliated by launching missiles and suicide drones at Israel and US bases in Arab countries in the region.

Patriot launchers deployed by the US in South Korea in 2023. Photo: US Army

Iran's continuous attacks are placing significant pressure on the air defense networks of the US and its allies in the Middle East. Observers believe that the Patriot systems there are at risk of depleting their interceptor missiles, while the ability to replenish stockpiles is limited. Iran's retaliation also destroyed numerous "eye of the sky" radar stations, including the AN/TPY-2 of THAAD, deployed by the US and its allies in the region.

President Lee commented that the withdrawal of some US weapons from South Korea would not affect the strategy of deterring North Korea, adding that Seoul's defense spending and non-nuclear military capabilities far exceed Pyongyang's.

The US maintains a significant military presence in South Korea to help the country defend against threats from North Korea. Approximately 28,500 US military personnel and air defense systems, including Patriot and THAAD, are deployed in the East Asian nation.

Pham Giang (According to Reuters, Chosun)