U.S. President Donald Trump has put pen to paper on a defense authorization bill that restricts any drawdown of American troops in South Korea.<br />There had been concerns Trump might be tempted to slash the number of U.S. soldiers on the peninsula as a cost-saving measure, but the bill prevents that. <br />Lee Seung-jae reports. <br /> The John S. McCain National Defense Authorization Act,... which approves 716-billion U.S. dollars for defense in fiscal year 2019,... was recently passed by both chambers of Congress,... and was sent to President Trump on Monday to sign into law.<br />At a ceremony at the U.S. Army's Fort Drum base in New York,... President Trump called the bill "the most significant investment" in the nation's military in modern history.<br /> The legislation notes that over 28-thousand American troops are currently stationed in South Korea as a demonstration of the U.S. commitment to the bilateral alliance. <br />And under a section describing the Sense of Senate on U.S. military forces on the Korean Peninsula,... it says their "significant removal" is "a non-negotiable item as it relates to the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization" of North Korea.<br />In short, the defense bill restricts any drawdown of American troops in South Korea.<br /> A conference report accompanying the legislation notes that Congress also prohibits the use of the funds to reduce the troops' number below 22-thousand,... without certification from the Secretary of Defense. <br />The defense chief would also be required to certify that he has "appropriately consulted with allies of the U.S.,... including South Korea and Japan,.. regarding such a reduction."<br /> The restriction comes as President Trump has repeatedly indicated his willingness to eventually pull American forces out of South Korea. <br />Critics say such a move would play into the hands of North Korea and China,... which wish to see U.S. troops removed from near their border.<br />Lee Seung-jae, Arirang News. <br />
