In a "white paper" released Monday, the South Korean defense ministry announced that the U.S. will drastically beef up its 37,000-member permanent force should North Korea decide to attack its southern neighbor.
"The latest Time Phased Forces Deployment Data for any contingency on the Korean Peninsula is comprised of 690,000 soldiers, 160 navy ships and 1,600 planes," the paper said.
The figure is 210,000 higher than the force contemplated in the early '90s, when U.S. contingency plans for an outbreak of war on the Korean peninsula was only 480,000 troops.
"This shows a strong U.S. determination to guard the Korean peninsula despite its plan to reduce the entire number of troops," said the white paper, adding that the U.S. plan also includes supplying equipment to counter weapons of mass destruction and the use of aircraft carriers and advanced aircraft to attack enemy artillery units at the onset of any war.
U.S. plans are based on the hope that by being well-prepared for any war on the peninsula war can be avoided and peaceful relationships established with the North.
"South Korea's partnership with the United States will ensure peace and deterrence of war on the peninsula and create an atmosphere for peaceful unification," the white paper explained. "And with sights beyond unification, this partnership will contribute to the stability of Northeast Asia.
"Based upon a robust combined defense posture, [South Korea] and the United States continue close consultation in implementing a policy of reconciliation and cooperation toward the North."
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