South Korea and the United States have recently agreed on a plan to temporarily deploy Patriot missile defense batteries from the South to the Middle East, sources said Friday, amid speculation over a potential shift in the role of the US Forces Korea.
The allies agreed last month on the "monthslong" partial deployment of the Patriot Advanced Capability-3, the first known case involving the relocation of USFK assets to the Middle East, according to the sources.
The missiles work alongside South Korea's own air defense assets in a multilayered missile defense system against North Korea's missile and nuclear threats, according to the sources.
The rare move comes after US broadcaster NBC News reported last week that US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has authorized at least two Patriot missile defense batteries from Asia to be moved to the Middle East as the US takes military action against Yemen's Houthi rebels.
But it also comes amid growing concerns here that Washington may demand that Seoul further shoulder the cost of the upkeep of the USFK or reconsider the role of US troops in South Korea as US President Donald Trump takes a "transactional" approach to alliances.
The USFK reaffirmed its ironclad commitment to the Korean Peninsula, without providing further details, citing internal policy, when asked about the latest deployment.
"USFK will temporarily deploy personnel and equipment from the Republic of Korea as part of a rotational deployment," it said in a statement. "USFK will still maintain a ready, capable, and lethal force on the Korean peninsula prepared to respond to any contingency." (Yonhap)
