The Effects of Korean Unification on US Military Presence in Northeast Asia

Hendelson's main argument in the piece is that he agrees in order to maintain order and stability, at least for the next 10, 15 or so years, it is necessary to maintain US military forces throughout East Asia. It is important, not only in the ROK to help protect South Korea from the threat of nuclear weapons, but to protect Japan as well. Also, it is partly to make sure the North Korea is not including themselves in activities not condoned by the US Military forces in the area, such as the continuation of building and storing nuclear weapons within the country. Also, the US is remaining in the area selfishly as well, to maintain our national interests. However, all the reasons stated in the article are mostly legitimate. The US presence allows for protection from security threats of the NKPA as well as using the military to fufill the needs of our country too. Some of the threats that are cited in the article include, most obviously, a threat that all countries have post September 11th, is the threat of attack by international terrorists. Also, if Korea were to unite once again, some other threats would be posed by other East Asian countries, China and Japan. Japan can be seen as a potential threat with the technology is has and the warfare it is capable of waging, though Japan has not acted on the defensive since their defeat in World War II. Though the author believes that it could be a possibility from the wearing down of US-Japan relations in recent years. It would be necessary for the US to maintain itself in the country even if it were to reunite because of the problems reunification would pose. The US is important to the ROK for many reasons, including the military forces it provides. The United States would be able to help defend the ROK against the NKPA hostile forces if any conflict were to arise. Also, reunification would significantly affect the economy of the ROK, as well as be costly to the nation. The United States could be there to help lessen the effects on the South Korean economy while possibly helping with the costs. Reunification could significantly improve the countries' relations without outside forces. If the country was unified, the relations could significantly improve with China, however could possibly be detrimental to the Korean-Japanese relations.
The article states that the United States has focused on maintaining bi-lateral relations with Asian nations but trying to open up multilateral nations among those same nations. It is important for the United States to do so because the relationship it holds with countries such as North Korea, and South Korea differ greatly. The US views North Korea as a security threat, while holds mostly amicable relations with its southern counterpart. This is important because if the three countries were connected through multilateral nations, the relationship would be complicated, with could potentially hurt relations between North and South Korea as well.
The author concedes that at the current moment, it is necessary to maintain US forces within Asian nations, however if the countries were reunified and stabilized, potentially the forces could be removed. Though it would not be immediate as to not damage the nation but help it suceed as one. Though the author does say if one country, such as South Korea wants US troops out, it could potentially cause Japan to make US forces leave the country as well, which would be damaging to the US's own self interest. The author states that the US military needs to find new ways to maintaining forces in the area without necessarily being in a foreign nation.
The articles that we read for monday are contrasting with this particular article because they make it seem that Koreans no longer want the US military in the country, while this article makes it seem that US forces are necessary. Also, the part about if South Korea asking the military to leave, that Japan would do the same, or vice versa, when supposedly South Koreans harbor a great dislike for Japan.