hankyoreh

The USFK military base Camp Humphreys in Pyongtaek

The US Defense Department emphatically stated on Dec. 5 that it has no plans to evacuate the dependents of US Forces Korea troops as suggested by Republican Senator Lindsey Graham. Responding to the Hankyoreh’s request that day for the Pentagon’s position on Graham’s remarks, East Asia-Pacific spokesperson Lt. Col. Christopher Logan said it had no plans at present to pursue the voluntary or mandatory evacuation of dependents of troops stationed in South Korea. Logan also said it had no intention of altering its policy of approving family members to accompany USFK troops.

Amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula after North Korea’s Nov. 29 test-launch of the Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), Graham said in a Dec. 3 appearance on CBS that it was “crazy to send spouses and children to South Korea, given the provocation of North Korea.” Graham also said he would demand that the Defense Department stop permitting dependents to accompany USFK troops.

Logan stressed that the readiness posture, safety, and welfare of US troops, civilian personnel, and family members were essential to maintaining a strong South Korea-US alliance, adding that the US had numerous “contingency plans” in place around the world to protect dependent safety. USFK conducts annual exercises to prepare for the evacuation of USFK dependents and other civilians living in North Korea.

By Yi Yong-in, Washington correspondent

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