Transforming the US–ROK Alliance: Changes in Strategy, Military and Bases*

Abstract

Since the waning days of the Cold War, the US–ROK alliance has gone through a number of changes. Its transformation has accelerated for the past several years in no small part due to the Bush administration's new strategy, military transformation, and global base realignment as well as the Roh government's desire for self‐reliant defense. This article outlines the ways in which the three changes have affected the alliance, and assesses the impacts they are likely to have on the security of the Korean peninsula and Northeast Asia. It concludes with a consideration of the modifications that the new governments in Seoul and Washington are likely to make to the transformation of the alliance in the near future.