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For the first time, the United States Congress included a reinforcement of North Korea’s specific military response postures to biological and chemical weapons. A clause was included for the third year in a row to strengthen Congressional oversight of the administration’s USFK reduction measures. Reporter Lee Jo-eun reports.
The 3,652-page defense authorization bill for fiscal year 2021, secured by the VOA on Day 3, contained measures limiting the administration’s unilateral decision on the size of US troops in Korea and Germany.
In particular, in the case of Korea, the budget cannot be used to reduce the size of the USFK to less than 28,000 (current level) for 90 days from the date the Defense Minister demonstrated to Congress the specific requirements outlined. in the bill. “
A Republican official on the Senate Military Committee said in a closed conference call that day: “It is a measure that recognizes that the size of US troops stationed overseas can be adjusted regardless of which administration relies on mission changes.”
He said: “I will clarify the oversight of Congress to see if the scale is appropriate.”
The bill finally agreed to by the Senate and House of Representatives states that the reduction of American forces in Korea will be ‘in line with the national security interests of the United States’ and’ will not seriously harm the security of allies in the region ‘, and’ will properly debate with allies such as Korea and Japan ‘. The three numbers of ‘I did it’ were asked to be tested to Congress.
The final draft was not included in the final draft of the additional requirements of the House Bill to demonstrate that “the reduction of US forces in Korea is proportional to the reduction of the threat from North Korea” and that “Korea it has the ability to deter conflict. “
Concerned about the Trump administration’s unilateral action to reduce US forces in Korea, Congress has included measures in the Defense Authorization Act every year since 2018 to strengthen the administration’s oversight of these decisions.
The military commissioner of the House of Representatives of the Democratic Party, Adam Smith, said in a video interview in July that “Our committee believes that the cooperation between the forces of the Republic of Korea and the Republic of Korea and the presence of American troops on the Korean peninsula has prevented North Korea from starting a war. “
[녹취:스미스 위원장] “Our committee believes …”“The USFK is providing enough deterrence to prevent the deterioration of North Korean belligerence,” he stressed. “We want to maintain this deterrent.”
For the first time, the National Defense Authorization Act included a call for a response to the North Korean biological and chemical weapons threat promoted by the House of Representatives.
The bill required the Secretary of Defense to submit specific implementation plans to Congress within one year of the bill’s entry into force on matters recommended by the United States Accounting Office (GAO) in the report “Preparation United States Military for North Korea’s Biochemical Weapons Response “.
Also, unless there is a specific reason, the plan has been implemented within one year and six months of the legislation going into effect.
After four months of negotiations, the $ 740.5 billion bill finalized by the Senate and House of Representatives prepared the Pentagon’s ‘Pacific Deterrence Initiative’ (PDI), a plan aimed at significantly increasing US military power. in the Indo-Pacific region in response to the growing influence of China. I did.
It is a large-scale plan to significantly modernize the posture and capabilities of the US military in the region by investing $ 2.2 billion a year alone.
In a bipartisan summary of the bill, the Senate and House Military Committee said in a bipartisan summary that the Pacific Deterrence Initiative “will send a strong signal not only to China and all potential enemies, but also to its allies.” , and that “the United States is deeply committed to protecting regional interests.” That.
The initiative also focuses on strengthening regional alliances that Congress emphasizes in a bipartisan way.
Regarding the threat in Northeast Asia, “North Korea remains dangerously fickle, making the world unpredictable,” said Democratic Party Senator Tommy Duckworth, a member of the Military Committee, in a video chat that day. Provides a sense of security. “
[녹취:덕워스 의원] “North Korea remains dangerously erratic …”The bill is expected to pass the Senate and House next week, garnering bipartisan support, and passing Congress without a hitch.
In the midst of this, President Donald Trump said there was no content to abolish Article 230 of the Communication Quality Act (CDA), which poses a “serious threat to national security and electoral integrity” as a legal shield for large information technology companies. I am fit to exercise.
This is the news from VOA, Lee Jo-eun.
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