South Korea and the United States have not discussed reducing U.S. troop presence in the country, despite reports suggesting otherwise. The issue is reportedly linked with defense cost negotiations and ongoing trade discussions.

South Korea's defence ministry said on Friday that Seoul and Washington had not had discussions about the withdrawal of some U.S. troops stationed in the country. The ministry made the comment in response to a report by the Wall Street Journal that said the U.

Fears that Washington might pull some or all of the roughly 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea have loomed large in the country since Trump's first term.