ABSTRACT
Some developments in the Republic of Korea (ROK) and the United States portend in the history of the security relations of the two blood-forged allies. Scholarly predictions of an imminent change in the overall ROK-U.S. relationship abound. Professor Robert Scalapino predicted, albeit in a moderate tone, that the ROK-U.S. military command structure would almost certainly undergo changes. According to him, “the question of an adjustment of US military forces and weaponry in South Korea is also very likely to be raised, at least by 1990 or shortly thereafter.” At the peak of the Korean War, the number of US troops in Korea reached over 300, 000. The number decreased to some 200, 000 in 1954, 73, 000 in 1955, 60, 000 in 1960, and 40, 000 in 1971. The USFK has also assisted the ROK armed forces in military education and training. Every year, the two countries conduct large-scale combined military exercises such as “Team Spirit.”.
