ABSTRACT
The alliance between the US and the Republic of Korea (ROK) conceived as a defense-oriented one against a North Korean military attack has been maintained thus far on the two pillars. 'ROK–US Mutual defense Treaty' and US Forces in Korea. The current reduction plan is occasioned by the 'US Military Transformation' and 'Global Defense Posture Review'. South Korea and China normalized their diplomatic relations in 1992, and subsequently ROK–China trade increased steadily while US–ROK and ROK–Japan trade declined in relative terms. The factors influencing the future of the US–ROK alliance are as follows: the global security environment, US security policy toward East Asia, especially China, and South Korea's national security strategy, especially toward North Korea. A regional security alliance is based on the assumption that military tensions on the Korean peninsula will be lessened. The RAND has assessed US–ROK security interests and objectives as 'common interests' and 'compatible interests.'.
