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South Korea: War minister ‘could deny’ US request for Japanese army in Korea

SOUTH Korean Defence Minister Han Min Koo insisted yesterday that his country had the right to reject US demands for Japanese troops to enter the Korean peninsula in emergencies.

Mr Han told Representative Lee Chun Seok of the main opposition New Politics Alliance for Democracy that South Korea could disregard any US call for Japanese involvement if an armed conflict broke out with North Korea.

His comments in parliament followed growing public concerns about the ramifications of Japan’s controversial security Bills that will allow it to fight overseas for the first time since the end of World War II.

Seoul’s foreign ministry reiterated its position at the weekend that Japan must win consent from South Korea before its collective self-defence right is exercised.

South Korea handed over wartime command of its troops to Washington during the 1950-53 Korean war and 28,500 US troops have been stationed there ever since.

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