SEOUL – South Korea’s defence ministry on Friday firmly denied reports that it had engaged in discussions with the United States over a potential partial withdrawal of American troops from the Korean Peninsula. The clarification comes in response to a Wall Street Journal article citing US defence officials, which claimed Washington was weighing the redeployment of approximately 4,500 US troops from South Korea to other locations, including Guam. Currently, around 28,500 US troops are stationed in South Korea—a long-standing military presence aimed at deterring threats from nuclear-armed North Korea. In a statement, the South Korean defence ministry said: “There has been no discussion whatsoever between South Korea and the United States regarding the withdrawal of United States Forces Korea.” The two allies renewed their cost-sharing agreement last year, with Seoul agreeing to increase its financial contribution by 8.3% to 1.52 trillion won (approximately $1.1 billion) through 2026. “US Forces Korea remain a cornerstone of the South Korea-US alliance,” the ministry added, citing the troops’ role in maintaining “a strong combined defence posture” that helps ensure peace and stability both on the Korean Peninsula and across the broader region. The ministry emphasized that cooperation with Washington will continue to deepen to reinforce this shared security role. United States Forces Korea declined to comment on the report, stating that any official response would need to come from Washington.