The U.S. House Armed Services Committee has reportedly authorized a clause in a new defense budget bill.... that blocks any move to significantly reduce the number of U.S. forces in South Korea.
Citing Committee Chairman Adam Smith, Radio Free Asia reported on Monday... that the clause, initially left out, was added in a revision to the bill for the 2020 fiscal year.
The bill states... the minimum threshold must not fall below 28-thousand-5-hundred,... which is the current number of troops stationed in South Korea,... because of the continued threats from North Korea.
Many believe it's a move to prevent the Trump administration from downsizing the U.S. military's presence on the peninsula.
The American president has repeatedly said he's not happy with the costs related to the South Korea-U.S. defense alliance.