Military calls relocation
of I Corps speculation

YONGSAN GARRISON, South Korea — U.S. Forces Korea and the Pentagon are disputing a Friday report about the possible relocation of part of I Corps headquarters and its effects on Army commands in South Korea.

In a statement issued by USFK public affairs, officials said the Stars and Stripes report — which quoted a U.S. Army Japan spokesman as confirming such talks are underway — was “speculation.”

“As we have stated in the past, there is no plan to dismantle the Command elements of the United Nations Command, Combined Forces Command, U.S. Forces Korea and 8th U.S. Army Headquarters,” read part of the statement attributed to USFK spokeswoman Lt. Col. Deborah Bertrand.

“Any change to the command structure of UNC, CFC, USFK or EUSA will be coordinated directly with the Republic of Korea government. Any media reports concerning the future of UNC, CFC, USFK and EUSA are speculation.”

The Friday report quoted Army Maj. Randy Cephus as saying, “There are talks; however, it is in the planning phases.”

“I am not able to discuss specifics, but among them is the possibility of moving a portion of the [I Corps] headquarters here,” he said, referring to the Camp Zama headquarters of U.S. Army Japan.

But the release also quoted a Pentagon spokesman as saying, “It’s important to note that this article represents an opinion, and should not be viewed as authoritative fact.”

“This speculation reported as fact does not help efforts to make decisions in consultations with our allies,” according to comments attributed to Lt. Cmdr. Flex Plexico.

Ongoing efforts by the Pentagon to reshape its forces worldwide have drawn several reports about the future of military commands in the Pacific.

At a panel discussion broadcast over the Internet last month, U.S. Forces Korea commander Gen. Leon LaPorte denied there were plans to disband the three major commands at Yongsan Garrison and said the U.S. Army would have a significant presence in Korea even if reunification between the divided nation were to take place.