Joint Security Area Quietly Handed Over To ROK Forces

The end of an era

Published on November 2, 2004 By chiprj In Current Events

After more than half a century of guarding freedom's frontier, the United States Forces Korea (USFK) have pulled the last security elements off the front line. Check this article out for more information - Big Changes in JSA as USFK Transfers Duties to Korean Military.

This marks a continued effort by USFK to realign the troops on the peninsula. A few years back, USFK pulled most of the 2nd Infantry Division troops back a little and relinquished control and responsibility for security for the DMZ. At the time, the JSA guard unit was the only place where US Soldiers were on the 'front line' and it was comprised of about 30% US Soldiers. Now, that number has been cut back to about 7% and the remaining troops are there for administrative and tourism purposes, not security.

Much of USFK remains in the 'reach out and touch you' range of North Korean forces, but they are no longer within spitting distance of the border. This, too, will change over the next few years as USFK already has plans set in motion to remove almost all of its troops from Seoul and parts north of Seoul. Also, one brigade of the 2nd ID has already been redeployed from Korea to Iraq. When that brigade rotates out, it is destined to return to the states, not Korea.

Comments

Dr Guy

on Nov 02, 2004

Dont you think it is about time? Kim Jung Il can bluster, but in the end, short of nukes, he can do nothing.

It is time.

chiprj

on Nov 02, 2004

Dont you think it is about time? Kim Jung Il can bluster, but in the end, short of nukes, he can do nothing.

Actually, he can do quite a bit, just not to us. The forces he has arrayed across the DMZ could lay waste to Seoul and the rest of the northern part of South Korea in very little time. That's something. Unlikely, but he does hold that card and South Korea is paying attention to that. In fact, USFK pulling back (and eventually out of SK) makes SK very nervous about our intentions. With nothing personal to lose, the US could attack NK with little chance of counter attack.

But I do agree. It is time. The primary reason for keeping US Soldiers near the DMZ and north of Seoul was to be a 'trip-wire'. That's just a nice way of saying that the job of the Soldiers was to die in a messy and loud way so the US would have a clear mandate to become involved and counter attack.

Spc Nobody Special

on Nov 02, 2004

awwwww.....you make me almost miss being a north korean speed bump.

Spc Nobody Special

on Nov 02, 2004

p.s. saw your brothers blog, cool!

chiprj

on Nov 02, 2004

p.s. saw your brothers blog, cool!

You mean Different Hanja? My wrong brother? Or did my real brother start a blog and not tell me?

greywar

on Nov 03, 2004

Nice to see the Koreans stepping up to the plate. A lot more respect for them than I have for the NATO folks who still depend on us for their defense.

chiprj

on Nov 03, 2004

Nice to see the Koreans stepping up to the plate. A lot more respect for them than I have for the NATO folks who still depend on us for their defense

Preach on, Brother greywar!

SSG Geezer

on Nov 07, 2004

I loved OP O! It was so cool to watch the NK Guards pissing on the side of their tower because they were too frickin lazy to go to what passes for a latrine in the north.

chiprj

on Nov 07, 2004

I loved OP O! It was so cool to watch the NK Guards pissing on the side of their tower because they were too frickin lazy to go to what passes for a latrine in the north

BWAHAHAHAHAHA! Very nice! I can see the duty log now...

2230 hrs - NK guard pisses on the side of guard tower.
Action taken - logged.

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